September 7, 2023
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
Looking Ahead
- Friday, September 8: Make-Up Picture Day (for those who were not photographed at Back To School Night)
- Ice Cream Social, 3 PM, South Lawn
- Wednesday, September 13: Upper School Student Club and Organization Fair
- Thursday, September 14: Curriculum Night, 6-8 PM, MPA
- Thursday, September 21: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
- Monday, September 25: No Classes, Yom Kippur
- Tuesday–Saturday, September 26-September 30: MPA Homecoming Week
- Friday, September 29: All School Homecoming Assembly, 2:20-3 PM, Lansing Sport Center
- Upper School Student BBQ and Bonfire, 5-8 PM, Benz Courtyard
- Saturday, September 30: Homecoming Events @ MPA
- Upper School Homecoming Dance, 8-11 PM, Upper School Commons
- Tuesday, October 3: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
- Wednesday, October 4: Class of 2024 Cum Laude Society Inductions, 7:30-8 AM, Recital Hall
- Thursday, October 5: PA Upper School Parent Quarterly Coffee, 8-9:30 AM, PCR
- Friday, October 6: Picture Retake Day
- Senior Retreat & Dinner, 8-6:30 PM, Off Campus and MPA
- Monday, October 9: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- Wednesday, October 11: Grade 10 & 11 PSAT Testing
- Thursday, October 12: All School Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences, 3:30-8 PM, MPA
- Friday, October 13: No Classes, Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences, 8-5 PM, MPA
Earlier this week, I walked into a darkened first block Upper School classroom where the students sat silently. I was on “a mission” to deliver an item forgotten in a parent’s car at drop-off, and my interruption temporarily distracted the class from the task at hand—settling in for the day and the classes that lay ahead. The faculty member easily recentered the students and asked them to focus on the noises that they hear; conspicuous or inconspicuous. As a visitor to the classroom, I silently participated in this activity. I heard a door creak, a student shuffle in their chair, a locker close, and the shallow breathing of the student seated in front of me.
According to National Public Radio (NPR), “sounds affect us and transport us to a specific place or time.” As you might imagine, being on campus during the summer months allows for a slower pace and a much quieter environment. The return of faculty and students in late August brought a wonderful buzz of energy and enlivened the placid MPA hallways. The sounds I heard while standing in the classroom this morning and over the past couple of weeks have been music to my ears and enthusiastically welcomed me to the 2023-2024 school year.
I am excitedly looking forward to seeing you on campus and sharing the beautiful sounds and experiences of the Upper School.
I look forward to seeing you on campus soon.
Mark
Important Information
- 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.
- Class of 2024 reminder: Please remember to complete the online form with your student’s name on their graduation diploma. The deadline for this is Friday, September 8. Please reach out to Mark Segal should you have questions.
- Please plan to join other Upper School parents at the Upper School Curriculum Night next Thursday, September 14. This is a good opportunity to learn broad information about your student’s classes and to meet their teachers. As this is an evening that will share generalized information, there will not be time to have specific conversations about your learner. Should you have individual questions, please schedule time during parent/student/teacher conferences (see below) or contact Jay Dean or Mark Segal.
- Fall Conferences are right around the corner. They will take place 3:30-8 PM on Thursday, October 12 and 8-5 PM on Friday, October 13. More information will be shared toward the end of the month regarding signing up for conferences, but for those new to the community Upper School students participate in their conferences and are required to attend.
