June 1, 2023
from Jenn Milam, Middle School director
Important Dates And Upcoming Events
- June 2: 5/6 Canoeing Adventure
- 7/8 Valley Fair Performance and Fun Day
- June 3: MPA Commencement 2023
- June 5: Grade 8 Independent Research Showcase
- 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
As of your reading of this Panther Post, we have just 3 and a 1/3 days of school remaining! It’s been a JOY-FULL year with lots of growth, awesome adventure, and so much of which to be proud. When I asked Middle School teachers to share some of their highlights from this year, they shared…
- FUTURE CITIES, TEAM VAXA, wins Minnesota state competition and advances to nationals in WASHINGTON, DC!
- Shared time in DC with our MPA Alums!
- Beckett and Kalyx’s limbo competition, where they both were able to clear two feet, four inches!
- Sixth grade wrote amazing historical plays about civil war spies for next year’s class!
- Seventh graders loved writing poetry outside in the sunshine!
- Each class learned a lot about themselves and others on their class trips!
- Social Change Club and those passionate about Turkey/Syrian earthquake relief raised $1000 for their cause with the help of the sixth graders service project for Valentine’s Day!
- The seventh graders had a great enthusiasm for reading The Giver!
- Roller-skating was a blast and iTERM was epic!
- French 1 and French 1B had a lovely picnic with the fourth graders
- Seventh graders really took their CO2 dragsters to the next level of physics awesomeness!
- The most Middle School clubs, EVER, being run 100% by students!
- Fifth graders successfully navigated their first year of Middle School with joy and lots of heart!
And finally, the Middle School team and I set as our goal for this year to BRING THE JOY! And we did it – we even spent one of our professional development days at Four Season Curling, where we learned to curl and had a fierce battle to win! We were intentional in our care for ourselves and for others, and I’m proud of our division and how we experienced this year together whole heartedly!
Thank you for your love, your partnership, support and care! Let’s make next year our best yet!
Class of 2029 Washington DC Trip
While the EARLY BIRD deadline has passed, you can still register for the Washington DC trip!
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! You only need to put down the $49 deposit to register and hold your spot! Payment plans are flexible and available.
Please also refer to the email sent for more details, trip number and informational meeting recording! If you have questions, please reach out to Dr. Jenn Milam (jmilam@moundsparkacademy.org).
REMINDER: 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!
Transportation is provided for students and parents should plan to send money to the park with their students for lunch/refreshments throughout the day. We will return from Valley Fair in time for a 3pm dismissal.
Please have your student dress for the weather, apply sunscreen, and wear comfortable, closed toe/walking shoes! A water bottle is advisable, and students should plan to bring $20-25 for food, drinks, etc. in the park!
Canoeing At Taylor’s Falls: Grades 5 and 6, Friday, June 2
All students in grades five and six will be canoeing on Friday, June 2. We will board a bus and spend the day on the water. Students will need to pack a lunch to take along and wear appropriate clothing to get wet! Please also apply sunscreen, send a water bottle, and look forward to a great day!
Parents are welcome to attend, and if you are interested in doing so, please reach out to Ms. Nagle (cnagle@moundsparkacademy.org) to learn more details and share your wish to join!
NOTE: If you wish for your student not to attend, you are welcome to keep them home on this day. All middle school students and teachers will be away on this last Friday of the year.
Library Books Are Due Now!
Please make sure that your student has returned any materials borrowed from the library. If your student is not sure if they have materials, please have them stop in and see Ms. Lage. Any books not returned will result in a charge being applied to your TADS account for billing.
Moving Up Ceremony: Tuesday, June 6, 2 PM
Please join us for this time-honored tradition in which we celebrate the culmination of Middle School for our fabulous eighth graders and welcome our newest members of Middle School, our rising fifth graders. The program will begin at 2PM, immediately following the Passion Project Showcase in the Middle School hallways and commons.
We’ll have popsicles for all students on the green just outside the gallery immediately following and it’s a wonderful time to visit with other parents!
Last Day of School!
We will have our annual Yearbook Assembly at 8:15 AM, in the Nicholson Center, on the last day of school. Parents and families are welcome to attend. Immediately following the assembly, students will report to their advisories to pick up their yearbooks (if they ordered one!) and then we hang out in the hallways, listen to music, and have a great big signing party!
It is typical for most classes to gather immediately following the end of our morning activities on the last day of school at an event coordinated by the Parents Association Grade Representatives. Please check your respective Schoology group for details.
NOTE: Dismissal on Wednesday, June 7, is at 10:15 AM. Please be prompt in picking up your student and make plans for this special day!
Summer Events For Middle Schoolers
Our amazing Parents Association and grade level representatives, have put together three awesome opportunities over the summer for you to be together, have some fun, and continue building our amazing Middle School community. I hope you’ll consider joining us at one or all of these events:
Grade 4: Wednesday, June 7, 11 AM-1:30 PM at Seaquest, Roseville
Grade 5: Sunday, June 4, 2:30 PM arrival time, St. Croix Riverboat at Taylor’s Falls
Grade 6: Wednesday, June 7, 4 PM, at Can Can Wonderland, St Paul
Grade 7: June 7, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM, Casey Lake Park, North St Paul (sharing with grades 7,8,9 & 11)
Grade 8: June 7, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM, Casey Lake Park, North St Paul (sharing with grades 7,8,9 & 11)
Please reach out to mpapa@moundsparkacademy.org with inquiries and questions!
Be well. Take care of one another. Have a wonderful summer!
