Upper School Division News June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Looking Ahead

  • June 2: World Language Final Exams, During World Language Classes
    • MANDATORY Choir Rehearsal, 10-11 AM, Nicholson Center
    • Class of 2023 MANDATORY Graduation Rehearsal, 11 AM-12:30 PM, Nicholson Center
    •  Class of 2024 MANDATORY Honor Guard Rehearsal, 11:45 AM-12:30 PM, Nicholson Center
  • June 3: Commencement, 6:00 PM, Nicholson Center
  • June 5: English Final Exams, 8:45-10:15 AM, Locations TBD
  • June 5: Math Final Exams, 12-1 PM, Locations TBD
  • June 6: End of Quarter 4/Semester 2
  • June 6: Social Studies Final Exams, 8:45-10:15 AM, Locations TBD
  • June 6: Science Final Exams, 12-1 PM, Locations TBD
  • June 7: Last Day of School
  • June 7: Yearbook Assembly, 8:15 AM, Nicholson Center
  • June 7: Dismissal, 10:15 AM

One of the most challenging things an educator does is say goodbye to their students at the end of the school year. They spend the year building relationships based on trust and shared experiences only to have them come to an end early each June. There are some educators who believe that they have become experts at striking the right balance between attachment and detachment. Meaning that when the time comes for them to say goodbye they can do it with relative ease. I am unable to do that, especially with those students who are on the cusp of graduation. I have found that toward the end of each May, when stress, fatigue, and emotion is running high, I focus on the positive interactions and experiences with students. Although this practice eases the inevitable, I still get sad thinking about not having those students as part of the day-to-day community. It was refreshing to have the seniors back on campus yesterday as they hosted Service-Con and shared their senior service projects with the MPA community.

Over the past several years the Class of 2023 has spent more time with each other than anyone else in their lives, and next year they will be spread across North America and Europe attending new schools, meeting new people, and building new relationships. This will be a significant adjustment for all of us. Gemma Cheney, a senior clinical psychologist and a visiting lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London, says that “students who are securely attached and have grown up with caring teachers in their lives, turn up in the classroom and school building ready to engage and learn.” I have been fortunate to see this with seven graduating classes, and believe whole-heartedly that this is the case at MPA.

I invite you to attend graduation this Saturday evening (June 3) to celebrate the Class of 2023. As educators, we often spend more time with our students than our own children, so we grow to love and care about each one of them. This class of sixty young adults have brought laughter, tears, chaos, and joy to our community. I will continue to reminisce about the time and experiences we shared. To me, they will always be remembered as members of this senior class, and I am excited for their futures and to see who they will become.
I look forward to seeing you on campus soon.

Important Information

  1. If your student will be absent, late, or needs to be excused early from school, please reach out to upper school administrative assistant Chanda Williams at cwilliams@moundsparkacademy.org.
  2. Please join us for the Class of 2023 graduation this Saturday, June 3 at 6 PM. Tickets are not required for this schoolwide event.
  3. On Monday, June 5 and Tuesday, June 6, there are no regular upper school classes – there are only final exams for grade 9-11 students during those two days. Students may be on campus before and after their final exams and lunch will be available for those students on the MPA lunch plan 11:20-11:45 AM. Light breakfast and snack items will be available throughout the day to all upper school students outside of the upper school office. Please note that Middle and Lower School students will follow their regular class schedules and only Upper School has a modified schedule for final exams.
    1. Monday, June 5
      8:45-10:15 AM–Upper School English Final Exams
    2. Tuesday, June 6
      8:45-10:15 PM– Upper School Social Studies Final Exams
      12-1:30 PM– Upper School Science Final Exams
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