Upper School

Join Us For Rooted: A Black History Month Showcase

February 17, 2026

An MPA Black History Month showcase. Join us as we come together as a community to celebrate Black history, culture, and contributions through a powerful, engaging, and student-led experience for Rooted: A Black History Month Showcase on Wednesday, March 4, from 4-6 PM in the Family Commons, Nicholson Center, and Upper School Commons. Throughout February, students across all divisions have been exploring this year’s theme, Rooted, reflecting on history, identity, creativity, excellence, resilience, and community. Their learning and projects will culminate in a dynamic evening celebration that highlights student voice, artistry, and leadership.

The school building will open at 3:15 PM for visitors to tour student projects and displays throughout the divisions. The Family Commons will open at 3:30 PM, where guests can gather, enjoy light soul food prepared by the one and only MPA legend Chef Ronnie, and participate in interactive opportunities connected to this year’s theme. The Nicholson Center doors will open at 4:20 PM, and the showcase will begin promptly at 4:30 PM. Read More

Then & Now: The Band Program

February 16, 2026

The MPA band preforming. From Gavin Thorson ’22

As I look forward to my graduation this May from Montana State University, reflecting on how I’ve grown as an academic and as a human during my time in Bozeman, I have often thought about the version of myself that was in a similar position four years ago, in the waning months of my senior year at Mounds Park Academy. This review of the last four years of my life dredged up some of my fondest memories of that spring of 2022, and perhaps my happiest memories are of playing trumpet in the band.

The band program at MPA is special, and not least because of how it began. In 1983, music educator Sarah Kumagai was looking for a change. She had bounced between schools for years, and in those days when men dominated education, opportunities for serious advancement were nonexistent. A friend steered her in the direction of MPA: “a new, progressive school.” At her meeting with Bob and Sandy Kreischer, Kumagai proposed a band program which stipulated that each band student receive individual lessons. Only through one-on-one lessons would students ever receive the care and attention necessary to improve their musical skills. Other programs often grouped students together, which was detrimental in Kumagai’s view.

The Kreischers were ready and willing to take on a young woman as their band director, and regarding her proposal about lessons, they replied: “Great — do it!”

So began Kumagai’s 18-year tenure at MPA, which saw the school’s enrollment blossom and its music program similarly thrive. Students received individual lessons, and the volume of students eventually required the employment of an additional staff member for the band program. Eventually, Kumagai was working with the drama department on producing Broadway musicals, which provided challenging scores for Kumagai’s students who played in the pit band. MPA grew bigger and bigger and sent its many graduates off into the world with pleasant memories of making music with friends. “Thank you,” is what they say to Kumagai when they see her now. She says to them, “Thank you for playing with me.” Read More

Upper School Division News February 12, 2026

February 12, 2026

Two MPA Upper School students selling pastries. from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Thinking back to 1995, my first year as an educator, I had a colleague who referred to February as “the longest short month of the year.” At the time, I didn’t really know what he meant as I made my way through the winter months wide-eyed and with great naivety. Now in my 30th year of teaching and working in schools, I fully understand what they meant. While the calendar tells us we are close to spring, the reality for many of us is that winter has dragged on as we continue to manage the shorter days, cold weather, and fewer natural breaks in our routine. All of this can make February feel very heavy. At the same time, the expectations set by teachers continue as students’ focus, motivation, and energy may be running low.

February is also the time when teenagers typically experience increased stress and emotional fatigue. Research from the American Psychological Association (APA) shows that teenagers consistently report that schoolwork is one of the greatest sources of stress and that during February, there is little opportunity to pause or reset. The APA and the National Institute of Mental Health explain that reduced daylight and prolonged winter conditions can affect mood, energy levels, sleep, and concentration. This is sometimes referred to as the “winter blues,” and in some cases, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The winter months are often identified as the most challenging months, and this, coupled with teenagers balancing academic demands, social pressures, and developmental changes, creates an “interesting” confluence of life events. Read More

MPA Students Win 28 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards!

February 6, 2026

The Visual Arts Department is thrilled to announce that MPA student artists won 28 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards this year!

Congratulations to the artists for their achievements, and good luck to the Gold Key winners whose work will go on to compete at the national level.

Gold Key Award Recipients

  • Ansel Streier ’26, Ceramics, “Green Jar”
  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Painting, “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”
  • Elizabeth Jacobson Faye ’27, Ceramics, “Growth Through Unity”
  • Hazel Pelszynski ’28, Ceramics, “Ceramic Tiles”
  • Jenny Liao ’28, Drawing, “Crimson Rest”

Silver Key Award Recipients

  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Ceramics, “Chimera Fwan (Fawn + Swan)”
  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Painting, “From Sunrise to Sunset”
  • Nicole Kim ’27, Fashion, “Safety Is a Luxury”
  • Jenny Liao ’28, Illustration, “Busy Stroll”
  • Jenny Liao ’28, Painting, “Archangel Saint Michael”

Honorable Mention Recipients

  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Painting, “An Extinction”
  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Drawing, “Moroccan Horse and Wrangler”
  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Painting, “Moroccan Horse and Handler”
  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Painting, “Drawn”
  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Mixed Media, “A Bug’s Eye View”
  • Amy Xiang ’26, Painting, “The Art of Raw”
  • Amy Xiang ’26, Mixed Media, “Broken Space”
  • Yujin Byambatsogt ’26, Drawing, “Feeling Blue!”
  • Yugin Byambatsogt ’26, Painting, “Across Borders”
  • Thomas Dickson ’26, Painting, “The Heron’s Landing”
  • Ash Klann ’26, Painting, “Bleeding Hearts”
  • Alona Vietrova ’26, Painting, “MPLS”
  • Olivia Collister ’27, Ceramics, “Melting Memories”
  • Evie Minear ’27, Drawing, “Architectural Study in Ink”
  • Hazel Pelszynski ’28, Ceramics, “Historical Coil Pot”
  • Leo Stout ’28, Painting, “5-String Bass”
  • Sofia K. ’30, Drawing, “Bubbles”
  • Rosalie M. F.  ’30, Printmaking, Flower Mandala

See an album of their award-winning work here!

State Of The School Report

February 5, 2026

Lower School students enjoying themselves. from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

As I reflect on the first half of the 2025-26 school year and look ahead to what remains, I am filled with pride and gratitude to be part of the Mounds Park Academy community. In recent Panther Posts, our division directors have shared thoughtful reflections on the current strengths and future priorities of the Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School. Today, I invite you to step back with me and consider the broader picture—how these division-level experiences come together to shape a cohesive, meaningful PreK-12 journey for our students, families, faculty, and staff.

On behalf of the faculty and staff, thank you for believing in the educational growth and experience MPA works hard to deliver each and every day. Working in a PreK-12 school is a rare and special experience. Our shared campus creates natural moments of connection—from simple waves of hello and high-fives to impromptu conversations in hallways between students of all ages and adults. There is a shared ownership, appreciation, and respect for the space we all inhabit together throughout the day.

A Community Rooted in Belonging
For many, MPA is a second home—one where students and adults spend more waking hours learning, studying, volunteering, and growing together than they do in their own homes. Community is built everywhere and often. Lower School CHAMP assemblies, along with Middle and Upper School gatherings, provide consistent opportunities to celebrate shared values and reinforce what it means to be part of this community. Read More

Join Us For The 2026 Spring Auction: Rooted In Purpose!

January 30, 2026

A member of the MPA community enjoying the spring auction.Join us for the 2026 MPA Spring Auction: Rooted In Purpose, on Friday, April 17, at the Lowlands in St. Paul! We look forward to gathering as a community to celebrate the mission we share and the people who make Mounds Park Academy such a special place. This joyful evening will bring together families, alumni, staffulty and friends to raise critical support for our school, all while enjoying great company, food, and a little fun along the way.

Sponsorships are now available. This is the perfect time to consider a Business or Family Sponsorship. Sponsorships include:

  • admission to the event for two or more
  • reserved priority seating
  • access to our Sponsorship Pre-Party
  • recognition across event materials
  • interactive auction opportunities, depending on the level
  • early access to our silent auction
  • and the chance to underwrite tickets so our incredible staffulty can attend at no cost.

Family Sponsorships can be purchased here, and Business Sponsorships can be bought here.

We are committed to making this community-building event accessible to all. If ticket pricing presents a barrier to attending, please contact Ashley Goetzke, director of development and community engagement at agoetzke@moundsparkacademy.org to discuss reduced pricing options based on need.

State Of The Upper School: Living, Learning, Thriving

January 29, 2026

Upper School students acting during the Winter Show from Mark Segal, Upper School director

As we reach the midpoint of the school year, our division directors are pausing to reflect on what is thriving, what is evolving, and what lies ahead. These updates reflect the unique character of each division and, together, highlight the shared commitment to learning, belonging, and growth that defines Mounds Park Academy. Watch for a state of the school report with a PreK-12 perspective from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school, in next week’s Panther Post.

At the midpoint of each year, I enjoy setting aside time to examine how the first half of the school year has unfolded and to consider where our focus should be for the months ahead, as we also begin planning for the next school year. Recent data from the Net Promoter Survey, along with student feedback and faculty conversations, affirm that the Upper School continues to thrive as a place of strong academic engagement and personal growth.

Academic Excellence and Preparation

With a well-established culture of exceptional teaching, Upper School students consistently report feeling supported, challenged, and well prepared for the academic demands of college and beyond. Alumni echo this sentiment, often sharing that the habits of thinking, writing, and self-advocacy they developed here served them well as they transitioned to some of the most rigorous colleges and universities in the country.

Class sizes that hold in the mid-teens, along with a thoughtfully structured daily schedule, support meaningful student–teacher relationships. Students have regular opportunities to connect with faculty during prep periods, study halls, and shared involvement in extracurricular activities, many of which meet during the school day. These connections allow teachers to know students well—not only as learners, but as individuals—and to support them in ways that extend beyond the classroom.

Read More

Small Acts, Shared Belonging

January 22, 2026

A group of Lower School students cheering. from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

Lately I’ve felt, as I suspect many of you have, a heavier, quieter kind of worry. Over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, I took time to reflect on peace, equality, and the lessons my parents taught me about service: that small acts of kindness truly change lives. Hearing our youngest students at their Lower School assembly speak about Ruby Bridges and ways to practice kindness and fairness gave me chills and renewed my hope. I then had the good fortune of walking through the Upper School Commons, where I could see some Upper School students helping one another and connecting across grades, along with their teachers, which makes it very evident to me how our daily choices to connect create belonging.

This week, a group of MPA students, faculty, staff, caregivers, and administrators attended the Pollyanna National Conference: Building Stronger and Kinder Communities. The original plan was to hold the conference in Minneapolis, but organizers pivoted to virtual at the last minute. Though not the same, seeing over 40 schools from across the nation gather and focus on communities offered the encouragement so many of us have been looking for. The conference reminded me why MPA’s commitment to community and deepening relationships matters.

I want to take a moment to offer a few takeaways from two keynote speakers from the conference.

Read More

Upper School Division News January 15, 2026

January 15, 2026

A Upper School student performing an experiment. from Mark Segal, Upper School director

As we draw the first semester to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the true strength of our Upper School community. A strong, supportive community isn’t just a “feel-good” phrase—it’s a vital foundation that helps every student, teacher, and family thrive, especially during challenging times. Whether it’s academic pressure, personal stress, or unexpected life events, knowing you are part of a warm, caring, and nurturing community can make all the difference in how you navigate those moments. Educational research shows why these matter. Studies have found that “school connectedness (the feeling that students are supported, respected, and valued by their peers and adults at school) acts as a protective factor that promotes resilience and positive outcomes even when students face adversity. (Development and Psychopathology, Cambridge University Press, November 15, 2021)”

This aligns with our own experiences at MPA. When students feel connected, whether through supportive friendships, strong relationships with teachers, engagement in school athletics and activities, or simply knowing that a community member cares, they are more likely to persevere through challenging times and reach their full potential. As Coretta Scott King wisely said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” That compassion, which is shown in everyday acts of kindness, support, and genuine care, transforms our upper school into more than a loose group of individuals—it makes it a resilient, uplifting, and unified community. Read More

Save The Date For The 2026 Spring Auction: Rooted In Purpose!

January 9, 2026

Mark your calendars for Friday, April 17, 2026! MPA’s largest and most spirited fundraising event of the year is back, and this time we’re bringing the party to Lowlands in St. Paul!

This year’s theme, Rooted in Purpose, is a celebration of everything that grounds us—our values, our community, and our unwavering commitment to empowering students to dream big and do right.

Enjoy an unforgettable evening with:

  • Delicious food and hosted bar
  • Live and silent auctions packed with can’t-miss experience
  • A lively crowd of parents, alumni, and friends who care deeply about MPA
  • And plenty of surprises along the way!

Many sponsorship packages with special perks are available! Visit moundsparkacademy.org/springauction to purchase your family or business sponsorship package!

For questions or to donate an auction item, contact Ashley Goetzke, director of development and community engagement, at agoetzke@moundsparkacademy.org or 651-748-5536.