{"id":30234,"date":"2026-05-21T10:13:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T15:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/?p=30234"},"modified":"2026-05-21T10:46:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T15:46:39","slug":"lower-school-division-news-may-21-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/2026\/05\/21\/lower-school-division-news-may-21-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Lower School Division News May 21, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Afrom James Ewer, Lower School director<\/strong><\/p>\n

We started this year still finding our footing. New faces in classrooms. New routines being built. New trust being earned. We asked a lot of our kids, and they delivered. We asked a lot of each other and we showed up. Not perfectly. But with intention. That matters.<\/p>\n

We learned that students are more capable than we sometimes give them credit for. When we gave them a voice, they used it wisely. When we raised our expectations, they rose to meet them. When we built structures that were clear and consistent, they thrived inside them. That is not a small thing. That is the work.<\/p>\n

We also learned that community is not just a word we put in a mission statement. It is what happens when a family sends a hard email and a teacher responds with care. It is what happens when a child is struggling and the adults around them refuse to give up. It is what happens when we disagree and still choose to stay in a relationship. You have been that kind of community this year. I am grateful.<\/p>\n

We have grown.<\/p>\n

We are sharper because of what we built together. Teachers, students, and families. The honesty we brought to this year, about what was working and what was not, is a sign of a community that is serious. We are not finished. We are not supposed to be. But we are better. And better matters.<\/p>\n

Next year, we will come back with more. More clarity. More systems. More intentionality around personalizing the experience for our students. We have work ahead of us and I am not afraid of it. I am energized by it. Because the children in this building deserve our best effort, every year, without exception.<\/p>\n

To every family who trusted us with your child this year: thank you. Not for a moment, but for the whole thing. For the hard conversations and the celebrations. For the patience when we did not get it right and the grace that kept us in partnership. You have made this year meaningful.<\/p>\n

This is my last formal note for a minute.<\/p>\n

So let me leave you with what I always try to carry: peace and love. To your families, to your summers, to the version of your child who will walk back through our doors a little taller and a lot more ready.<\/p>\n

We will be here. We will be ready.<\/p>\n

Until then.<\/p>\n

Mr. Ewer<\/p>\n

The MPA Difference Is Meant to Be Shared<\/strong>
\nThe most meaningful way new families discover Mounds Park Academy is through you. When you share your experience\u2014whether with friends, neighbors, or colleagues\u2014you offer an authentic glimpse into what makes this community so special.<\/p>\n

As a small gesture of thanks, MPA offers a referral program for current families. When a new student applies based on your recommendation, you\u2019ll receive a $250 tuition credit for the following year. If that student is accepted and enrolls, you\u2019ll receive an additional $250 credit. There is no limit to the number of referrals, and credits can add up quickly. One family last year received more than $2,000 in tuition credits!<\/p>\n

If someone in your circle is exploring schools, we would be grateful for the introduction. You can connect them directly with our team at admission@moundsparkacademy.org<\/a><\/strong> or 651-748-5577\u2014we will take it from there. Space remains in select grades!<\/p>\n

Thank you for being such a powerful part of how our community remains strong.<\/p>\n

Mark Your Calendars<\/strong><\/p>\n