October 26, 2023
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
A Look Ahead
- Friday, October 27: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
- Sunday, October 29: US Boys Soccer Banquet, 4:30-6:30 PM, Family Commons
- Monday, October 30: US Cross Country Banquet, 4:30-7 PM, Family Commons
- Wednesday, November 1: Grade 9 Parent Meeting, 6-7 PM, Recital Hall
- Upper School Instrumental Concert, 7:30-8:30 PM, Nicholson Center
- Friday, November 3: End of Quarter 1
- Thursday, November 9: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
- Monday, November 13: US Grade 11 Mock ACT, 11:30-3 PM
- Thursday, November 16: Give to the Max Day, Lip Sync Competition, 2:20 PM, Lansing Sports Center
- Grade 10 Parent Meeting, 6-7 PM, Recital Hall
- Upper School Vocal Concert, 7:30-8:30 PM, Nicholson Center
- Friday, November 17: 9th Grade Bring A Friend to MPA Day, register here
- Monday, November 20: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
- Wednesday, November 22-24: No Classes, Thanksgiving Holiday Break
- Thursday, November 30: Upper School Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM, MPA
- Friday, December 1: No Upper School Classes, Upper School Conferences, 8-5 PM, MPA
- Monday, December 4-Friday, December 8: MPA Book Festival
- Wednesday, December 6: Founders’ Day Community Breakfast, 7-8 AM, Family Commons
Often, we hear about professional development days and conferences for teachers. Topics may include classroom management, working with neurodiverse learners, or specific strategies and curricula for Advanced Placement courses. It is, however, just as important for school administrators to get out of the building and take advantage of learning opportunities. During the past three days, I was provided with a tremendous professional development opportunity from which I personally hope to grow professionally and from which I know the MPA upper school community can benefit.
I was invited to serve on a visiting accreditation team for the Independent Schools of the Central States (ISACS). Once every ten years, independent schools like MPA engage in a significant self-study reviewing all aspects of their school. Themes such as curriculum, finances, governance, and student services are examined by the school, from which a thorough report is written. The final self-study report is then shared with members of a visiting team to review and use as a basis of a scheduled three-day visit to campus. I visited a school just outside of Cleveland that was established 133 years ago. During my time there, I met with students, teachers, and administrators who affirmed what was in the shared report and added context to the items written about. Even though theirs is a single-gender community located on two campuses, I found relevant connections to MPA. Several of their courses and programs are like ours. Like us, their teachers are unwaveringly committed to their students and do all they can to support them. And the conversations and interactions between students focused on music, homework, and fantasy football just as ours do in Maplewood.
As you might imagine, being away from school is challenging because emails, voicemails, and community demands remain. Spending time, however, with other educators witnessing and learning about the inner workings and operations of a peer school is invaluable. Members of the visiting team share ideas and gather take-aways to bring back to their home schools. Serving on a visiting team at another school allowed me to realize that the conversations had at MPA are extremely similar to those had in other school communities and to see how fortunate I am to be part of the MPA community.
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, on cwilliams@moundsparkacademy.org.
REMINDER: The MPA first grade class and Upper School Student Council are joining together to host this year’s Red Cross Blood Drive for a joint community service project. We are asking for an hour of your time to donate blood on TODAY, 12-5 PM. There are a few appointments remaining. If you know that you are unable to give blood, please be sure to ask friends or relatives to take your place. To schedule an appointment, please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: Mounds Park Academy. Students can make their own appointment. However, 16-year-olds will need to schedule their appointment with Ms. Johnson (ejohnson@mondsparkacademy.org) to ensure they have turned in their parental consent form.
Class of 2027 Parents & Guardians: Please join Mark Segal and Jay Dean next Wednesday, November 1 at 6 PM for a grade-level meeting for 9th-grade parents. Various aspects of the 9th-grade experience, developmental milestones, and other items related to the Upper School program will be discussed. We will meet in the Recital Hall.
Second-quarter Upper School conferences are right around the corner. They will take place 3:30-8 PM on Thursday, November 30 and 8-5 PM on Friday, December 1. For these conferences, there will be no Upper School classes held on Friday, December 1, yet regularly scheduled classes PreK-8 will be held that day. Similar to the first set of conferences, Upper School students participate in their conferences and are required to attend. Please keep your eyes open for more information on registration that will be sent in the coming weeks.
