{"id":28740,"date":"2025-08-06T09:45:24","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T14:45:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/?p=28740"},"modified":"2025-08-11T08:29:05","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T13:29:05","slug":"the-summer-scoop-with-natalie-waters-seum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/2025\/08\/06\/the-summer-scoop-with-natalie-waters-seum\/","title":{"rendered":"The Summer Scoop With Natalie Waters Seum"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MPAThis message is from MPA\u2019s Office of Admission from the August 11, 2025 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n

In this issue of Inside MPA, we\u2019re catching up with Natalie Waters Seum, director of admission and communication, as she reflects on summer and offers advice for those considering MPA for this fall. Whether you’re just starting your school search or already planning a visit, this conversation is full of insights and helpful next steps.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s one way the MPA community supports new families and students?<\/h2>\n

Our new families are embraced from the start\u2014through summer social events, buddy families, and ongoing communication from both the division office and the Office of Admission. But perhaps the most meaningful support comes from the everyday moments once the family is on campus: a division director picking up the phone to check in, a teacher offering reassurance, a student inviting a new friend to sit by them at lunch. That\u2019s just who we are.<\/p>\n

What do you hope every new family experiences in their first year at MPA?<\/h2>\n

I hope they feel truly seen and supported\u2014long before day one, actually. Our community is remarkably warm and welcoming, and I want every family to feel that they\u2019ve found a place where their child will thrive, not just academically but socially and emotionally. I also hope they feel a growing sense of partnership with their child\u2019s teachers and a sense of joy about their school choice.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s one thing families are often surprised to learn during the admissions process?<\/h2>\n

Families are often surprised by how deeply we know our students. We hear it all the time, especially after the first set of conferences in the fall: \u201cI can\u2019t believe how well the teachers know my child already!\u201d That level of personal attention is at the heart of MPA. It\u2019s not just something we say\u2014it\u2019s something families feel right away.<\/p>\n

What makes MPA\u2019s approach to education different from other schools?<\/h2>\n

MPA blends academic rigor with a joyful, student-centered approach. We believe that children do their best learning when they feel safe, challenged, and inspired. Our curriculum is purposeful, our teachers are deeply committed, and our community is grounded in kindness and inclusion. That combination is truly unique and represents an organization that I am proud to represent each day.<\/p>\n

What excites you most about the upcoming school year?<\/h2>\n

This year, I\u2019m most excited to watch our new head of school, Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, step into her leadership in ways that will continue to elevate MPA\u2019s mission. There\u2019s a renewed sense of energy and clarity about who we are and where we\u2019re going\u2014and I can\u2019t wait to see our students thrive even more fully in that environment.<\/p>\n

Is there a story that\u2019s stuck with you from the past admission season?<\/h2>\n

One story I keep thinking about is a student who joined us after a tough experience elsewhere. Within a few weeks, the transformation was visible\u2014more confidence, more joy, and more willingness to engage in class. It reminded me of how powerful it is when students feel like they belong.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s a goal you\u2019re pursuing for the upcoming school year?<\/h2>\n

One of my big goals is to continue refining how we tell MPA\u2019s story. There\u2019s something so special here, and I want every prospective family to feel it\u2014from their first website visit to their first step on campus. That means aligning our messaging, our tours, and our outreach to reflect the heart of this place.<\/p>\n

Have you read any great books or learned something new this summer?<\/h2>\n

Yes! I\u2019ve been reading \u201cThe Art of Gathering\u201d by Priya Parker, which has really shaped how I think about building community\u2014not just planning events. It\u2019s made me reflect on how we bring people together with purpose and authenticity, especially during moments of transition like the start of a new school year.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your favorite memory from this summer?<\/h2>\n

Honestly, my favorite part of summer has been having our college-age son\u2014an MPA lifer from the Class of 2023\u2014home. I don\u2019t make many plans because my joy comes from cooking his favorite meals and simply being present with him. It\u2019s simple, but it\u2019s everything. Read the extra story, snuggle for a few more minutes, and hug your little ones every chance you get\u2014they\u2019ll be off on their own before you know it. \ud83d\udc99<\/p>\n

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This message is from MPA\u2019s Office of Admission from the August 11, 2025 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more! In this issue of Inside MPA, we\u2019re catching up with Natalie Waters Seum, director of admission and communication, as she reflects on summer and offers advice for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":28743,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,26,28,24,29,8127,9,12,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-admission","category-blog","category-current-families","category-featured-posts","category-homepage","category-international","category-lower-school","category-middle-school","category-upper-school"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28740","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28740"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28740\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28754,"href":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28740\/revisions\/28754"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28743"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28740"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28740"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28740"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}