April 20, 2023
from Jenn Milam, Middle School director
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
- April 21: A Night of Pure Imagination Spring Auction, 6:30 PM, Intercontinental Hotel, St. Paul Riverfront
- April 26: PA Cultural Diversity Day, 3-7 PM, Family Commons and Peacock Teaching Kitchen
- April 26: The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center
- April 28: No Classes, Professional Development
- April 28: The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center
- May 4: Middle School Family Dinner, 5 PM
- Rising Grade Level Meetings, Grades 4-8, 6 PM
- Middle School Vocal Concern, 7 PM
- May 11: Middle and Upper School Orchestra Concert, 7-8:30 PM, Nicholson Center
- May 17: Middle and Upper School Band Concert, 7-8:30 PM, Nicholson Center
- May 22-26: Washington DC, Grade 7 Trip
- May 25: Senior Walk, 1-1:45 PM, MPA Campus, Spirit Wear Day PreK-12
- May 25: MPA Retirement Gathering, 4-6:30 PM, Family Commons
- May 26: No Classes, Professional Development
- May 29: No Classes, Memorial Day
- June 2: 5/6 Canoeing Adventure
- 7/8 Valley Fair Performance and Fun Day
- June 3: MPA Commencement 2023
- June 6 Passion Project Showcase, 1 PM
- Middle School Moving-Up Ceremony, 2 PM
- June 7: Last Day of School, Early Dismissal 10:15 AM
Save The Date: Middle School Family Dinner, Grade Level Transition Meetings, and Choir Performance
A longstanding tradition, we will welcome our rising Middle School families to dinner with Middle School on Thursday, May 4, followed by transition meetings, and an all-Middle School Vocal Performance. This is a great night to learn about what to expect and look forward to in the 2023-2024 academic year, meet some of the teachers and advisors, and enjoy a great show! We usually begin around 5:15 PM, with meetings at 6PM, and performance at 7 PM!
More details are forthcoming, but you’ll not want to miss this!
Valley Fair Performance and Fun Day: Friday, June 2
On Friday, June 2, our seventh and eighth grade students will perform at Valley Fair. There will be singing, orchestra, and band ensemble performances. We will board buses and depart early in the day, perform and then students will have the opportunity to spend the day at the park, riding rides and having fun!
The cost per student is $25 and students should also plan to bring money for lunch/drinks. You can send the $25 to school as cash/check (made out to MPA). More information will be coming home from Mr. Skrove (Band Director) and Ms. Lawson (Orchestra Director) this week and next.
NOTE: If the cost of participation is a hardship for your family, please reach out to Dr. Jenn Milam for support. We want all students to attend and share in this awesome experience.
If you missed our Valley Fair Zoom informational meeting, you can access that here.
If you have questions or concerns about the trip, please reach out to Ms. Lawson or Mr. Skrove!
Middle School Matters: A Community Book Study
Our next meeting is Thursday, May 18, 7:30 PM! Please join us, even if you didn’t the first time – there is great discussion, fellowship, and affirming conversation with other parents!
Middle School is a time of rapid changes, new experiences, and sometimes, perplexing encounters in a new world in which we (parents!) did not grow up! In partnership with Ms. Cooper, our school counselor, and Ms. Meras, our new Middle School dean, I am hosting a community book study this spring. We will do a shared reading of “Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond—and How Parents Can Help” by Phyllis L. Fagell.
We invite you to have dinner with your family, put your feet up, pour a drink of something you enjoy, and meet us online, the following dates at 7:30 PM, from the comfort of your living room!
- Thursday, May 18, 2023: Learning and School
- FINAL SESSION—TBD: Empowerment and Resilience
We will have guest speakers and experts for each of the sections of the text and will share our own personal journey in raising spirited, well-balanced, resilient, kind, and good humans.
You can purchase the book in any format of your choosing, and in whatever way you’d like. Here are a few options:
Or you can check it out at your local library!
You can also just drop in for a listen, join the conversation, and build community. I am hoping with a later evening gathering time, and the flexibility of ZOOM, that we’ll have the opportunity to connect and grow our community in a way that makes space for the various family and scheduling demands we all juggle.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 332 737 0417
Password: MSMatters!
Planned Absence Policy
We understand that families may make vacation and time-away decisions that make sense for their family and not necessarily with the school calendar. While we support your travel and quality time, please also work with us to recognize that missing school can be challenging for your students, and we should work together to help them in keeping up with academic assignments, assessments, and projects.
Please review the MPA Planned Absence Policy and work diligently to communicate your family’s plans with the Middle School office, as well as help your student to communicate directly with their teachers. It is an important lesson in self-advocacy and self-management for a Middle School student to attempt this task independently.
Students are not penalized for missing school; however, they are responsible for the work missed as determined by their teachers. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out.
CLASS of 2029—Washington DC Trip: Early Bird Registration Extended to May 19
All students currently in sixth grade who wish to travel to Washington DC next year (May 2024) should visit the World Strides website and get registered ASAP! If you register and put down your $49 deposit by tomorrow, an Early Bird Discount of $125 will be applied to your trip cost! Payment plans are flexible and available.
All Eighth-Grade Parents: Moving Up Ceremony + Slideshow
We are beginning our planning for the Moving-Up Ceremony on Tuesday, June 6 at 2 PM. Please mark your calendars now for this special occasion to celebrate our eighth-grade class and to welcome our newest Middle School classmates from Lower School.
All parents and families of our grade eight students are asked to submit three photos of their student to be shared in the slideshow! All eighth-grade students will have photos included and this is your chance to celebrate your amazing kid. Please send three photos to Ms. Lassonde (jlassonde@moundsparkacademy.org) at your earliest convenience. The three photos should include one of each of the following:
- one from when they were young;
- one that captures their passion and personality; and
- one from Middle School with their friends.
The sooner you send these, the sooner we can begin putting together the most amazing keepsake slideshow!
NOTE: The Passion Project Showcase will immediately precede the Moving-Up Ceremony on the same day, at 1 PM. Please save the date/time on your calendars now—the end of the year will be here before you know it!
2023-2024 World Language and Mathematics Placements—Coming Soon!
It’s hard to believe that we’re looking toward next year already, but we are! Please be on the lookout in your mailbox for a letter indicating what your student’s world language and mathematics placement for next year. This placement is based on your student’s performance academically this year, taking into consideration scores on major assessments, (home)work completion, attention to assigned tasks, and overall readiness for the next level or advancement.
It is important to note that advancing in language and/or mathematics, without the proper foundation, can be detrimental to a student—not just academically, but socially and emotionally. We have taken this into consideration, as well, in our decisions about placements for next year and are deeply committed to ensuring that each student is able to be successful.
Be well. Take care of one another. Happy Spring!
