Upper School Archives

MPArors At Great Northern Regional Competition

February 28, 2020

While the MPArors robotics team knew their robot was a work in progress when they headed north, the challenges multiplied in four practice matches. The bumpers had to be redone, which usually takes weeks. The shooter didn’t shoot in one match. The buttons on the controller didn’t respond in one match. The robot didn’t drive straight in one match. A collision shattered the acrylic “indexer,” which moves the fuel cells (squishy balls) into the shooter. Some motors ran in different directions in different matches.

But in every tricky situation, the students in the pit crew–with the invaluable help of mentors and coaches–got to work without complaint and dealt with the hardware and software problems one by one. After the scheduled practice matches, the team was able to participate in one more. It was the last unscheduled match of the day, before the field was closed. The MPArors were able to be part of a triple climb at the end of this match, which may have been the only time it happened today! In the photo above, you can see all three blue robots hanging (MPA is team 3926). The team kept working the problems after that match, and by the time we left the pit area around 8 PM, all the causes of the above problems had been addressed. Read More

Important Coronavirus Update

February 27, 2020

As the world continues to monitor the Coronavirus and its impact on the lives of many, so too does MPA’s leadership. The safety of the entire community is always at the forefront of our minds.

To that end, students have been strongly discouraged from traveling to regions most susceptible to infection. If a student or other community member decides to travel to a country that has been identified with a warning or alert, they will need to follow the protocols of the Minnesota Department of Health, and the World Health Organization prior to returning to campus. We will work in close partnership with any impacted family while we follow the recommendations of those organizations.

At this time, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Health, the risk of becoming sick with COVID-19 is low, including for people in Minnesota schools. In the unlikely event that more significant school-related measures need to be implemented, MPA is well positioned with the educational technology necessary to facilitate communication and learning. Again, we will be following the recommendations of the Minnesota Department of Health.

In your daily life, please take great care to prevent the spread of all diseases: use good hand washing practices, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and do not travel or come to school or work while sick. On campus, we are working diligently to implement the additional recommended cleaning protocols.

We will continue to monitor this evolving situation and plan to communicate again next week as new information becomes available. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your division director or email communications@moundsparkacademy.org.

Cultivating Conscious Leaders

February 27, 2020

by Tiffany Scott Knox, MPA Board of Trustees Member

Architect. Physician. Entertainer. Professional athlete. Astrophysicist. President of the United States. Children have big plans for what they want to do when they are adults. As parents, we’ve been given the tremendous responsibility of raising the next generation of leaders—our job is to encourage, guide, and nurture their dreams. I remember the late great Whitney Houston, bellowed, “I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way, show them all the beauty they possess inside, give them a sense of pride to make it easier…” I now realize that is more than ‘just’ a song. An important piece of the puzzle is selecting an educational journey that is conducive for cultivating conscious leaders while preparing and equipping students for the future.

My husband, Clarence and I, are fortunate to be ambassadors of MPA which provides us the opportunity to share through our role as proud parents and members of this great community. We selected MPA because of that sense of community, belonging, and values that are omnipresent. For us, it is imperative that my child is seen, valued, and heard—and in a safe learning environment. Read More

Providing Our Students Safety And Confidence

February 26, 2020

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I couldn’t wait to get my driver’s license. The summer I turned 16, I was a counselor at a Boy Scout camp in Michigan. I asked my dad to drive up to camp so I could go to the local office and take the written and behind the wheel tests. I passed both with flying colors and achieved this important milestone of adolescence. Please note, this was not much of an accomplishment as the population of the town where I took the behind the wheel portion of the test was just under 2000. Given how important it was for my friends and me to drive, it has surprised me that more and more students in high school these days don’t have, and are not in a hurry to get, their driver’s license.

There is some very interesting quantitative research conducted on generational differences that explains this anecdotal observation. According to professor of psychology and author Jean M. Twenge, today’s young people, who she calls the iGen, are growing up slower than previous generations. Accounting for 24 percent of the population of the United States, iGen are those born between 1995 and 2012. Examples of this phenomenon are that they are less likely to: Read More

Tell Us Who To Invite To Upper School Grandparents Day

February 26, 2020

Invite your Upper School student’s Grandparent or Special Friend for a day at MPA on Wednesday, April 22!

Grandparents and Special Friends Day has grown to include an event designed especially for Upper School! Visitors will receive a unique glimpse inside our older students’ life at MPA.

If you would like your child’s Grandparent or Special Friend to receive an invitation in the mail to attend, let us know by sharing their contact information through this form by March 6, 2020. Doing so does not register them for the event, but rather lets us know who you would like us to invite. Read More

Invite A Friend To Our Next Lunch At MPA

February 26, 2020

Invite a friend to join us for Lunch at MPA on Wednesday, March 4 from 11:30 AM-1 PM! This admission event during a regular school day allows prospective families to meet school leaders, parents, and students over a casual meal and tour the campus to see our students and teachers in action.

Friends can RSVP for lunch at moundsparkacademy.org/RSVP!

MPA Quiz Bowl At League Playoffs

February 21, 2020

The 11th grade Quiz Bowl team competed in the League Playoffs at Burnsville High School and placed fifth overall! The players were Isak Dai, Ryan Ghose, Hana Miller, Ellen Vergin, and Tanner Gasteazoro. Isak Dai placed third individually in their division. Separately, ninth grader Anthony Troullier placed fourth individually in their division. Nice work, Panthers!

See You At Maker Fest On Saturday!

February 20, 2020

See you this Saturday, February 22 from 1-3 PM for Maker Fest 2020! Join us in the AnnMarieThomas Makerspace and Family Commons to view and participate with our community’s talented and passionate makers. Maker Fest is free is open to everyone–students, parents, grandparents, alums, faculty, staff, etc.

If you have questions, please contact Ms. Koen at nkoen@moundsparkacademy.org.

Independent School Diversity Career Fair

February 20, 2020

We are proud to be a part of this year’s Independent School Diversity Career Fair on Saturday, March 7, from 9 AM-12 PM at Breck School in Golden Valley. Faculty, staff, and school administrators who identify as people of color/indigenous are welcome to learn more about employment opportunities at a number of independent schools in the Twin Cities. Participating schools include: Blake, Breck, DeLaSalle, Friends School of Minnesota, Groves Academy, Minnehaha Academy, Mounds Park Academy, Shattuck-St. Marys, St. Paul Academy and Summit School, and Waldorf City of Lakes. Visit the website for more information and to register.

Ways Of Seeing

February 20, 2020

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

My mother had cataracts surgery today. Although I’ve known about the condition for years, I found myself researching its causes and treatment, happy to find that the procedure is both common and safe. In conversations with my mother, I asked how it affected her and the way she sees the world, the challenges she faces navigating her daily routine, and the limitations of poor sight. I am grateful for the doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers who care for my mother so that she can once again see the world with clarity.

I have long believed that the power of education is to help young people see the world in new ways. Inspiring literature, the beauty of mathematics, the magnificence of science, and the beauty and depth of the arts, provide students multiple ways of seeing themselves, others, and the world around them. Education is much more complex than simply imparting knowledge and skills. It is accompanying students through a challenging and sometimes uncomfortable process of fostering a growing awareness of themselves and their own agency. Read More