October 14, 2015
Its has been a couple of very busy weeks at Mounds Park Academy. This week, we hosted Dr. Will Grundy, NASA scientist and lead investigator of the New Horizons mission to Pluto for a presentation to grades 2-12 on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we welcomed over 200 guests for our annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day concert and celebration. Though different, both events are windows into what makes MPA such a unique and special place.
I was very impressed with how well versed our students with the Pluto mission. Their questions were insightful and the students asking them were both curious and confident. Dr. Grundy was impressed and enjoyed meeting our students and teachers. His presence caused quite a stir and by the number of autographs he signed, he was treated more like a rock star than a scientist. Only at MPA!
Our Grandparents and Special Friends Day was equally memorable. The joy and delight in the eyes of our guests was palpable as they enjoyed a wonderful concert and visited classrooms. Many grandparents shared with me that they clearly felt a sense a strong sense of community and understood why our students consider learning to be joyful.
These are only two examples of what makes Mounds Park Academy such a special place. In both instances, it is due to the incredible people and programs we enjoy and value so much. As we enter into our annual giving campaign, I invite you to consider making a gift to the school. Your contribution is both an affirmation and an investment. Making an annual fund gift is an affirmation of the incredible teachers and staff that strive each day to providing a safe, nurturing learning environment that is both joyful and rigorous.
Your gift is also an investment in the future of the school as we create classrooms that encourage students to be architects of their own learning, where they take risks, view the world through multiple lenses, utilize innovative tools in both expected and unexpected ways, and demonstrate knowledge across and between disciplines. It enables us to provide a world class education that will empower students to live, learn and thrive in today’s 21st century globalized society.
I am struck by the generosity of this community. Each day, I witness acts, large and small, of parents, teachers, staff, alumni and friends that demonstrate their commitment to MPA students. I am reminded of an African proverb, “When spider webs unite, they can tie down a lion.” The amount of your gift is a personal decision but your participation is part of a communal affirmation and investment in the future of our students. I humbly ask you to join together in support of our students by making a gift to MPA.
