Upper School Archives

Let’s Actively Counter Negative Messages

May 17, 2018

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

A little over a year ago, I wrote to you about the concerns that educators and mental health professionals had with the Netflix series, “13 Reasons Why.” The series told the story of a high school student who died by suicide, leaving behind 13 reasons that the actions (or lack of actions) negatively affected her life and led to her suicide. My concerns included romanticizing suicide, minimizing the mental health that lies beneath suicidal ideation, and portrays adults as inept and uninterested in supporting children in distress. Around the same time, MPA instituted a comprehensive suicide awareness and prevention program called SOS. We also provided tips and resources to parents to engage in constructive and meaningful conversations with their children.

Get Involved With The Parents Association!

May 17, 2018

Become a bigger part of your child’s school! Engage with the MPA community and take an active role in the Parent Association by chairing a committee, or becoming a Grade Rep. Now is the time of year when those positions are being secured and we are seeking some amazing volunteers like YOU! To get involved or learn more, please email your interest to Kim Jakway.

Summer Volunteer Opportunities With MPA

May 17, 2018

Summer is almost here, and the Office of Admission is excited to be a part of several fun summer events and we are looking for volunteers to help us share MPA. MPA will be at the MSP Mini Maker Faire, Grand Old Day, and the Twin Cities Pride Festival. Plus, the Twin Cities Mom’s Blog Heroes event was just aded to our summer event calendar, and it’s being hosted right here at MPA! Volunteers can sign up here on a first come, first served, basis. Thanks so much for considering and we can’t wait to see you this summer!

MPArors Competing At State This Weekend!

May 17, 2018

Congratulations to the MPA robotics team on qualifying for the State Tournament! Catch the team in action at the Minnesota State Robotics Tournament on Saturday, May 19, at Mariucci Arena on the University of Minnesota campus! Out of about 215 First Robotics teams in the state, only the top 36 are invited to the tournament, so this is great honor and achievement for the MPA team! It is the second time in the seven-year history of the team that the MPArors will participate at State. Their matches begin at 8:30 AM! The full schedule, traffic information, and livestream information can be found below. We can’t wait to see you there supporting our awesome students!

Class Of 2018: William Thao, Hudson, WI

May 16, 2018

As the 2017–18 school year comes to an end, we’re sharing the college choice stories of several members of the Class of 2018!

In what grade did you come to MPA? 4th Grade

How did you come to choose the college that you did? Colby College was actually not at the top of my list until I visited the school. At the beginning of the year, I had over twenty schools on my list, but I sat down with Ms. Pederson to talk about my choices. We drew a chart of the schools on my list and organized them by location, price, chances of being accepted, and strength of programs that interested me. I knew I wanted a very small school that emulated the learning environment of MPA but also had the opportunities and programs I was interested in. Right when I arrived on campus, I knew Colby was the school I wanted to attend. I loved the campus and the people, and I was confident that the environmental science program would be an enriching experience.

Host An International Student

May 16, 2018

As spring arrives and the 2017-18 school year begins to wind down, we are excited to welcome at least three and up to seven new international students to MPA next year from China, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam!

Some of these students come to us after one year in an American public school under their belts, while others will be arriving from their home countries in August, stepping foot on our campus for the first time.

As we prepare for their arrival in August, we are looking to expand our pool of host families in order to make the best pairings and happiest homes for all.

Mounds Park Academy will actively support the student and the host family through the entire MPA experience including:
• orientation for host families and students;
• continuous support for families and students;
• quarterly activities for families and students;
• English as a second language (ESL) and academic support;
• college application and preparedness counseling; and
• a $9,000 room, board, and transportation stipend to the host family (made possible by the MPA International Program’s tuition and housing fees).

Students Discovering Their Voices

May 10, 2018

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Monday mornings are generally a flurry of meetings at Mounds Park Academy. Both the Lower School and the Upper School begin the week with division-wide meetings intended to keep the respective community informed, share what is happening in the classroom, celebrate milestones and important achievements, and build community. Monday morning meetings also give voice to students and intentionally invite engagement into the life of the school.

Invite A Friend To Lunch At MPA!

May 10, 2018

On Tuesday, May 15, at 11:30 AM, MPA will host the final admission event of the 2017-18 school year–Lunch At MPA! Invite a friend, neighbor, colleague, or anyone you know who shares your educational values. We can’t wait to meet them!

Guests are invited to campus during a regular school day to meet school administrators over a casual meal and tour the campus to see our students and teachers in action.

Parent Resources For “13 Reasons Why”

May 3, 2018

On Tuesday, May 15 from 6-7 PM in the Recital Hall, MPA student support staff will host an information night for grade 7-12 parents regarding the upcoming second season of “13 Reasons Why,” which is stated to be released on May 18, 2018.

The evening will include conversation and resource sharing for parents in preparation for the release of the show. “13 Reasons Why” is a Netflix series that has prompted significant controversy and concern among parents, educators, and mental health professionals. The show depicts a central character who dies by suicide, leaving behind 13 tapes for different people in her life who affected her negatively. Mental health professionals have expressed concerns that the show fails to make any mention of the underlying mental illness that is present for the vast majority of young people. Furthermore, the show has received intense criticism for romanticizing suicide. The show also fails to adhere to “Recommendation for Reporting on Suicide” guidelines developed for media outlets by prevention specialists who discourage describing suicides in graphic detail.

Students are welcome to attend the informational gathering as well.

May 3, 2018

Now is the time to get excited about 2018 MPA fall sports and register now! Please note that there are new opportunities for students going into grade five!

MPA believes athletics complement the academic experience, provide balance to our students’ lives, and foster school spirit. We offer one of the broadest prep-school athletic programs in the Twin Cities with first-rate facilities. MPA coaches are teachers, and the fields are extensions of the classroom. Athletics at MPA encourage students to participate, engage, and dream big. Through this, student athletes develop commitment, character, perseverance, initiative, leadership and teamwork! With options including cross country, volleyball, tennis, and soccer, we are so excited for another outstanding fall season!

Sign-up for fall sports here!