Upper School Archives

February 22, 2022

from Marc Shapiro, Upper School science teacher and robotics coach

If you’ve been in the Lansing Sports Center recently, you’ve surely seen the large wooden structure on Court 4. Maybe you even saw Michael Wilke ’16 working on it. The curiosity some people had about the structure made me overcome my reluctance at sending all employee emails, in order to compose this description of what the MPA Robotics team is about.

FIRST Robotics is an international organization headquartered in New Hampshire. It has four levels, starting with FIRST LEGO League (FLL) for elementary schoolers, all the way up to FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) for high schoolers. At MPA we have only an FRC team. Per capita, Minnesota has one of the highest participation rates in the U.S. There are more FRC teams in Minnesota than varsity hockey teams!

Each year, we are given a new “game” and a limited amount of time to create a robot to play the game. The robot must be designed, built, programmed, wired, and tested under strict constraints. A new robot is built every year; the game changes so much that there’s nothing from the previous year that is useful, other than possibly a drive chassis. With their batteries and bumpers, robots can weight up to 150 pounds. Teams are aided by adult mentors who are volunteers from the community, but the students have ultimate responsibility for designing, building, and operating the robot. Students can go the technical route and learn about building, coding, electronics and controls, computer-aided design, or using a CNC router, or several of these. They can also choose the non-technical path and work on such things as fundraising, marketing, outreach, and social media. Our team has Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and a still-under-renovation website. We are like a small business, and have to raise all our operating funds; our budget for this season is $24,000. Read More

Get Your Tickets To MPA’s Spring Auction

February 17, 2022

Friday, April 22, 2022
A’bulae | 255 6th St E, St Paul, MN 55101

The 2022 MPA Spring Auction: Let’s Dream is your chance to build community with fellow parents and raise funds in support of students and teachers. After years of joining together virtually, we can’t wait to safely be together in person to celebrate our students and school! Enjoy delicious cuisine, a hosted bar, live music, games, and both live and silent auctions.

Purchase tickets & learn more here.

We also need your help to ensure our silent auction is another great success! Contact us here anytime to learn more about our auction needs. Click here to view the 2022 Wish List.

Join us to dream big and celebrate all that we have accomplished together!

Meet Alex Bixby ’25

February 17, 2022

How many years have you been a student at MPA?
This is my third year.

What do you love about MPA?
I love the opportunities MPA gives me and the amazing community.

How are you encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
I’m encouraged everyday by being given opportunities to try new things, get out of my comfort zone, and even challenge myself. My teachers and peers have guided me into things I now love to do.

Why do you believe your teachers teach the way they do?
I believe in my teachers teaching the way they do because it works. I have found myself engaged in all my classes and learning quickly. Sometimes I have even gone to do more work on my own because of things they have taught that have interested me.

If you have attended another school, how has your experience here been different?
My experience at MPA has been the best thing for me. It has given me a community where I can feel safe and be myself. At my old school, teachers would just teach and go through lessons. At MPA, I have been able to connect with everyone and try new things. I’m able to reach out at any time and ask a question or share something and feel heard. Having small classes is nice because everyone can be a part of the class instead of sitting in a room of 30+ people and being overlooked. Read More

Take An MPA Art Crawl

February 17, 2022

from Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I am thrilled to see parents in the halls of MPA once more—we’ve missed you! With Omicron infections on a downward trend and our high vaccination rates, we have been able to open the school once again for parents. On my way back to my office after morning door duty on Monday, I happened upon three parents who had been enjoying time walking through the halls. In particular, they mentioned to me how impressed they were with the beautiful art our students have created that is on display throughout the building. Hardly a day goes by that I don’t stop to admire and enjoy it as it is one of the things I love most about MPA.

I was recently reading through the open-ended responses from the parent satisfaction survey administered in December and one comment caught my attention. In it, a parent questioned the requirement of art and theater in Middle School. I certainly respect the perspective of parents and realize that every child will not always enjoy the arts. I also know the importance of the arts in our mission and the long-lasting impact it has on students. An incredible amount of research has been conducted over the last decade on how music positively affects the brain and cognitive development.

For instance, one study found, “Involvement in the arts is associated with gains in math, reading, cognitive ability, critical thinking, and verbal skill. Arts education can also improve motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork.” Another study by a 15-year literature review done by the NEA found, “A growing body of evidence suggests that at virtually every stage of life, the arts can foster openness to novelty, encourage connections to people, places, things, and concepts, and promote the ability to take multiple perspectives, among other positive outcomes.” Read More

Maintaining Vigilance

February 10, 2022

from Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

“This is going to be bad. Really bad,” I said to myself as I listened to a podcast on my drive home from school late one night two years ago. It was in early January that a colleague of mine who works with international students first told me about an outbreak of new flu virus occurring in China, but the details were sketchy. I was desperate to learn more and somehow came across a podcast that went into great detail about the seriousness of the new strain—and I was deeply concerned. And scared, if I am honest. There was a lot I did not know two years ago but I knew the strength of our community.

It is hard to believe it has now been two years and yet it seems like just yesterday. I could only imagine then the implications of the pandemic and its effect on all our lives. It has taken an academic, social, and emotional toll on our community and yet we have persevered and deepened our resiliency. I am proud of our students and grateful for the trust and partnership of parents. Read More

Upper School Division News February 10, 2022

February 10, 2022

from Mark Segal, Upper School Director

I find it funny that although I have worked in the education field for more than a quarter of a century, I find parenting my own child challenging at times. Even though I have had hundreds of conversations about homework completion, technology usage, and grades, it somehow is different when the subject of the conversation is my own flesh and blood. Because of my role, I often know more than a “regular” parent does so my wife takes much of the responsibility of holding our son accountable for his actions and behaviors. Don’t get me wrong, I weigh-in, but find greater success not playing the “I know the real story” card.

Since early in his childhood, my wife and I have worked hard to instill the importance of being honest, even when it could lead to a negative consequence, in our son. This is, as we all know, much easier said than done. Even though we are all born with a natural sense of honesty, not telling the truth is a quick and often used defense mechanism. Realizing as we grow up that being dishonest allows us to avoid punishment, we instinctively twist the truth, at times, worried only about the consequence should we actually tell the truth.

In a recent blog post by noted author and academic, Angela Duckworth, she shares that, during the pandemic ripple effects of anxiety and stress may seem like a license to prioritize our wants and needs over our oughts and shoulds.” She goes on to explain that due to these feelings and until the crisis is over, it is okay to “cheat a little on homework and exams.” As you may imagine, as a school administrator I found the need to read, and re-read, this sentence and dive more deeply into this belief.

Unfortunately, there is research that verifies that this is happening. A recent article in the International Journal for Educational Integrity finds that negative emotions may, indeed, increase student occurrences of plagiarism and cheating. The studies show that, the challenges of education can be stressful, anxiety-producing, and sometimes depressing for students” and that these emotions may influence them to participate in academic misconduct.

Our hope at MPA is that when students experience these feelings that they double down on being honest not only with others, but also with themselves. Duckworth explains, “in these challenging times, we cannot underestimate the influence of stress on every aspect of behavior, including honesty.” At MPA we always strive to Dream Big. Do Right. and there is no better way to do this than to hold fast to the idea of being honest, even when it may be easy to take a path of less resistance.

As you know, one of the strong tenets of MPA is the relationships we build with students and families. It is for this reason that we ask you to have conversations with your students, as we do, about their academic honesty. We realize that in today’s world, with most answers literally at our fingertips, some may find it difficult to not let academic dishonesty occur; especially given the stresses we all have been experiencing over the past two years. Read More

Parents Association February Events & More

February 10, 2022

Thank You!
A huge thank you to everyone who participated in and donated to Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week! This is always a fun week for all staff as they stop in the Peacock Teaching Kitchen to satisfy their cravings. Offerings included healthy choices, salty snacks, dark chocolate, and that infamous Twinkie! Tara and Shari included a Good Riddance box, celebrating Harry Styles’ 30th birthday (with Twinkies and Hohos), and regional results of Groundhog’s Day. Thank you again from Tara Lafferty, Shari Jacobus and the MPA Parents Association.

Lower School Valentine’s Day
This year in lieu of a party, the PA Valentine’s Day committee will be handing out gift bags. We’re sad to miss our beloved tradition but have to keep our kiddos safe!

February Walks
February 11, 18 and 25, 8 AM
Join Michelle Mick Fridays starting February 11 for a little brisk walk around the MPA grounds. Look for Michelle and her black Suburban with the MPA sticker on the rear window, in the lower school parking lot, just after drop-off at 7:55-8 AM. Read More

A Lesson In Standing Out

February 9, 2022

What is it about great teachers that makes them stand out?

In MPA Upper School teacher Mike Vergin, it’s a commitment to knowledge about his subject matter, synchronized with a sense of humility and a willingness to let students pursue their own interests (a major part of what defines him as an educator). His quiet, laid-back demeanor makes him approachable, but his students will assure you that he is incredibly passionate, whip-smart, and extremely sharp on a wide range of subjects.

Vergin has taught social studies at MPA for 24 years and has been an MPA parent for 15. His current classes are ninth grade Honors World History, AP World History 10, World Religions and Constitutional Law. He has also helped coach MPA’s award-winning Debate and Speech Teams.

Vergin upholds the MPA tradition of sparking vibrant discussions in the classroom, and he credits his debate experience to making all the difference in his ability to credibly see and present both sides of an argument. He appreciates it when his students take risks by leaving their comfort zones and engaging in discussions on important but controversial topics. “Here you can disagree, you can evolve in your thinking, and you can question your original stance. This is a place where being curious and informing yourself is cool, and we hold space for the messy process that it sometimes takes to fully develop a position.” Read More

Meet Director of Guidance Randy Comfort

February 7, 2022

How many years have you been at MPA?
I am in year 19 at MPA.

What do you love about MPA?
The thing that I love most about MPA is that it is first and foremost a community of engaged and caring people. Families, students, and staff are all part of the fabric that makes this place special and I believe that people feel valued for being themselves.

How does MPA inspire students who dream big and do right?
As the person that builds the master schedule for the Upper School, I feel like the intentionality of choices is an integral part of the MPA system. Students can take a lot of different things in their career and the experiences that they have are part of what makes them who they are. I see opportunities to get involved way beyond the classroom by participating in athletics, productions, clubs, or service. When students can engage, then those choices inform the development of the whole person and not just focus on some specialization in one area to the detriment of other interests. Read More

Meet Fawzan Aslam ’24

February 4, 2022

How many years have you been a student at MPA?
This is my second year here at MPA!

What do you love about MPA?
I appreciate the aspect of community at MPA. In school, you’ll find a diversity of people that share common interests and ideas, while also standing for their own beliefs. This community is supportive and bolstering for a student’s success and overall experience, because of the apparent cohesiveness of a well-educated and friendly student body.

How are you encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
MPA encourages me to ‘dream big and do right’ with opportunities and the ability to bring about change. At MPA, I am able to pursue new opportunities and challenges apart from the regular school curriculum. Either this being leading Social Consciousness Club presentations or engaging in helpful Speech and Debate practices, there will always be opportunities for students. Moreover, students who create and engage in these clubs and groups are able to create change not only within the MPA community, but outside as well. By ‘dreaming big and doing right’, the actions of MPA students have a big and long-lasting impact. Read More