September 21, 2023
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
Looking Ahead
- Monday, September 25: No Classes, Yom Kippur
- Tuesday–Saturday, September 26-September 30: MPA Homecoming Week
- Tuesday, September 26: PJ Day
- Wednesday, September 27: Dress Like Your Favorite Character Day
- Thursday, September 28: Anything But a Backpack Day
- Friday, September 29: Homecoming Shirt/MPA Spirit Day
- 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
- Wednesday, October 18: Special Upper School Programming
- 9th Grade: 8 AM-3 PM, Off Campus Activity
- 10th Grade: 8 AM-12 PM, Pre-ACT (noon dismissal)
- 11th Grade: 8 AM-12 PM, Mock-ACT (noon dismissal)
- 12th Grade: No Classes, day used for college visits or applications
- Thursday, October 19: No Classes, Fall Break
- Friday, October 20: No Classes, Fall Break
- Thursday, October 26: MPA Upper School Blood Drive, 12-5 PM, MPA
- Friday, October 27: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
According to Chris Dibble, Albert Lea Minnesota high school principal, “Homecoming is an annual event that holds immense importance in the lives of students, alumni, and the broader school community. It is more than just a dance; it is a celebration of school spirit, tradition, and the sense of belonging.” Within the MPA Upper School, Homecoming is one of the anchors of the community as it helps set the tone for the year and is taken very seriously by our students. The week consists of various themed dress–up days, spectacular hallway decorations, an all-school pep rally, and a noticeable boost of school spirit.
Every year I look forward to the joy, camaraderie, and creativity that is exhibited during Homecoming week and this year is no different. Next week (the week of September 25-30) students will show their school spirit by dressing in various themed outfits ranging from bathrobes to Barbie, will decorate their assigned hallways as undersea or space landscapes, and cheer each other on during the variety of games and activities during the Homecoming Assembly and athletic contests on Friday, September 29 and Saturday, September 30.
Two featured events of the week are the annual upper school BBQ & Bonfire and the Homecoming dance. The student only BBQ & Bonfire is scheduled for Friday evening (5-8 PM). All upper school students are invited to enjoy a free bar-b-que cookout with their peers and then linger and hangout around the fire before the full day of on campus activities and competitions.. The piéce de résistance of homecoming…the dance is scheduled for 8-11 PM on Saturday (September 30). The MPA Homecoming Dance is unlike you’ve seen in all the best high school dramas, including Pretty Little Liars, Riverdale, and Vampire Diaries. Instead, all 9-12 grade students are invited to “come as they are” to spend time with their friends in the Upper School Commons. The inclusive gathering is more about socializing with friends and bouncing together to the beat of the music rather than coupling up and slow dancing as is often dramatized in Hollywood scripts. The dance is typically very well attended and a wonderful celebration to draw the important week to a close. Attendees (and their families) are reminded that no students will be admitted to the dance after 9:30 PM.
I am looking forward to celebrating Homecoming week as an upper school community and 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.
MPA is looking for help during Homecoming week. Whether you’re a new or seasoned upper school family, the Parents Association invites you to help our school this Homecoming. Various volunteer opportunities exist for parents and/or upper school students (community service hours are available). Please refer to this link to sign up for an available volunteer shift.
Please join us at the Upper School Parent Quarterly Coffee on Thursday, October 5. Parents will meet 8 – 9:30 AM in the Porter Conference Room (PCR). Upper school administrators will share how the school year has started and what families can look forward to as we make our way through the Fall. There will also be time for parents to connect with each other and to ask questions that they have.
All school 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. Information was shared earlier this week regarding signing up for conferences. As a reminder, Upper School students participate in their conferences and are required to attend.
