March 2, 2017
by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School
One of my favorite things to do is ask students, especially seniors, about their favorite “MPA moment.” What is your best memory that expresses what is uniquely MPA? Over lunch with a group of seniors, one replied, without hesitation, “Serving as a buddy to a Lower School student.” He went on to recount that ever since he was in kindergarten, he looked forward to making a difference in the life of a kindergartener in the same way that a senior touched his life so many years before.
Having grades PreK through 12 under one roof at MPA is not an accident—it is deliberate. Furthermore, role-modeling and mentoring are intentionally nurtured as a means to foster a safe, nurturing school culture. In a time that large public schools lead often to anonymity, MPA offers a warm, personal school culture wherein students truly know, respect, and value one another.
The events of a recent Friday drove home the very natural and organic way that relationships are nurtured across grade levels. My day began by attending the annual third grade event, Poetry and Pastries. As part of the third grade language arts curriculum, students study various forms of poetry and then recite a poem of their choosing in front of their peers and parents. As I scanned the faces of those assembled, I noted an older sibling of one of the third graders in attendance. That is not uncommon at such presentations. Having PreK–12 under one roof makes that possible.
Later in the day, I stopped by the classroom of Upper School physics teacher Marc Shapiro for the annual testing of bridges. This problem-based learning project challenges students to construct models of bridges using principles of physics and then tests each one’s strength by suspending weight. Throughout the day, PreK, kindergarten, fourth grade, and Upper School students attended to witness the successes and failures of each iteration. In fact, kindergarten and fourth grade students paired earlier that morning to build their own bridges in a growth mindset activity so they were able to compare and contrast the work. The look of awe, curiosity, and wonder on the faces of the younger students was priceless—especially when they witnessed Ben and Andrew George ’17 set a new school record (see video and photos here on Facebook).
The day ended with the third of four pairing assemblies (see photos here on Flickr) this year. In this long-standing MPA tradition, students across grade levels pair with one another. Older students and their younger friends read together, played games, even sang and danced together. I had a smile on my face all weekend thinking about the joy in the kindergarten room as seniors and eighth graders danced alongside the kindergarteners to the song, “A Tuti Ta, A Tuti Ta, A Tuti Ta Ta.” The silliness that ensued delighted the kindergarteners and grounded our older students.
As I walked around the building Friday, I was reminded of the incredible advantage of having PreK–12 in one building, under one roof. The positive, nurturing school culture that grows from the mentoring and role modeling between older and younger students cannot be underestimated. Study after study demonstrates that a positive school culture leads to both high levels of academic achievement and students’ social, emotional, and ethical development. It is this MPA culture that celebrates the unique differences of each student while insisting that everyone learns, lives, and thrives together. Under one roof.
