December 16, 2021
from Mark Segal, Upper School Director
My last Panther Post article spoke about the recent Semi-Formal dance and how events like the one held two weeks ago helps to strengthen interpersonal relationships and make us feel that we belong and that we are something greater than ourselves. My focus was on the dance itself, but it is important to share that the successful planning and organization of this event was due to the hard work of the Upper School Student Council. This group of students has worked tirelessly since the summer to find ways to unify and celebrate the Upper School community.
This week, for no clear reason, the Student Council surprised the Upper School with a winter themed dress-up week. They determined the themed days (PJ and Comfy Robe Day, Flannel and Warm Hat Day, Whiteout Day, Ugly Sweater Day, and MPA Spirit Day) and it has been fabulous to witness strong student and faculty involvement. The Student Council has also worked incredibly hard to plan a special activity on Friday for our last advisory meeting of 2021. They created a scavenger hunt using the GooseChase app where each advisory will explore the MPA campus and participate in friendly fun competitions against each other. This is exactly the type of coalescing that upper school students need as they work to complete their last minute assignments and projects, await college decisions, and contain their exuberance prior to departing for Winter Break.
Although this post is about the work of the Student Council, they are not the only upper school organization who has shown leadership and built community. Just this past week the Social Consciousness Club hosted a Macalester College Professor of Environmental Studies who spoke about her research in energy and climate policy, the Asian Awareness Club is hosting a bake sale with incredibly delicious treats, and the Peer Leaders started the week by decorating the Upper School Commons as a Winter Wonderland and served peppermint and s’mores flavored hot chocolate on Monday morning.
I will miss the hustle and bustle of our school community over the next two weeks. I hope your families enjoy the well-earned break and time together. I look forward to seeing you in 2022.
Important Information
As we continue to navigate the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, we ask for your diligence in working with our Covid-19 symptom response and contact tracing team. At the first sign of symptoms, parents should complete the daily AUXS app symptom screening and/or email covid@moundsparkacademy.org. This should happen BEFORE seeking a Covid-19 test. When a negative Covid-19 test is required for student clearance, results must be provided prior to the student’s return. All symptomatic community members, regardless of vaccination status must remain at home pending those results. Thank you for your partnership. For any questions, please contact Jennifer Rogers-Petitt at jrogers@moundsparkacademy.org.
Looking Ahead
- Friday, December 17: Winter Break Begins After Classes, 2:50 PM
- Monday, January 3: Classes Resume, 8 AM
- Saturday, January 8: Robotics Team Kickoff Event, All Day, MPA Campus
- Friday, January 14: End of Quarter 2 & Semester 1 Classes
- Monday, January 17: No Classes, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Tuesday January 18: No Classes, Professional Development
- Wednesday, January 19: Start of Quarter 3 & Semester 2
- Wednesday, January 19: Winter Show Preview, 7 PM, Black Box Theatre
- Friday, January 21: Winter Show, 7 PM, Black Box Theatre
- Saturday, January 22: Winter Show, 7 PM, Black Box Theatre
- Sunday, January 30: PK-12 Virtual MPA Admission Preview, 2-4 PM, via Zoom
- Wednesday, February 2: Pajamarama Orchestra Concert, 6:30 PM
