Upper School Division News January 11, 2024

January 11, 2024

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Mark Your Calendars

• Friday, January 12: US Class of 2028 Parent Coffee, 8-9 AM, PCR
• Monday, January 15: Indexed Tuition Re-Application Deadline
• Monday, January 15: No Classes, Martin Luther King Day
• Wednesday, January 17: US ACT Prep Class, 5:30-8:30 PM, Room 181
• Thursday, January 18: MS Grade 7/8 BIPOC Affinity Group, 2:20-3 PM, Panther Center
• Friday, January 19: MS/US End of Quarter 2
• Friday, January 19: US BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting, 11:20 AM-12 PM, Room 150-151
• Monday, January 22: No Classes, Professional Day
• Wednesday, January 24: US ACT Prep Class, 5:30-8:30 PM, Room 181
• Friday, January 26: US BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting, 11:20-12 PM, Room 150-151
• Friday, January 26: US Winter Show, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” 7-8:30 PM, Black Box
• Saturday, January 27: US Winter Show, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” 7-8:30 PM, Black Box
• Tuesday, January 30: Senior Performances, 9-9:15 AM, Nicholson Center (in lieu of block 1 classes)
• Wednesday, January 31: US ACT Prep Class, 5:30-8:30 PM, Room TBD
• Friday, February 2: US Winter Show, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” 7-8:30 PM, Black Box
• Saturday, February 3: US Winter Show, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” 7-8:30 PM, Black Box
• Sunday, February 4: US Winter Show, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” 3-4:30 PM, Black Box
• Wednesday, February 7-Friday, February 9: Grade 10 Deep Portage Trip

Important Information

• If your student will be absent, late, or needs to be excused early from school, please reach out to the Upper School office via cwilliams@moundsparkacademy.org.
• Class of 2028 parents are invited to attend a coffee for rising ninth-grade parents to learn more about the Upper School at MPA, ask questions, and share the excitement of this next important step in students’ educational journey. Please mark your calendar for Friday, January 12, 8-9 AM. No RSVP is required, and coffee, tea, and light refreshments will be provided at the gathering. We will meet in the Porter Conference Room (PCR) within the Head of School suite.
• Student work for quarter two/semester one classes is due by the end of the day on Friday, January 19. On Tuesday, January 23, students will start attending their quarter three/semester two courses.

With the turning of the page to a new year comes the opportunity to recommit to goals that have been previously set and to think of new goals to achieve. According to Joe Hoedel, the president of Character Development and Leadership, “At the beginning of each year, roughly 45% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. Most of these resolutions pertain to health (lose weight), happiness (enjoy life more) or a new skill (learn a new language).” Setting New Year’s resolutions can also be a valuable practice for high school students as it introduces a sense of purpose and direction during a critical period of personal and academic development. Resolutions serve as a roadmap for students to establish clear goals and to take a proactive approach to setting tangible expectations for their own education.

Setting New Year’s resolutions allows students to pursue goals that will hold them accountable to themselves by teaching them about the importance of self-discipline and time management. Goals serve as benchmarks for progress and growth. Educational consultant Jessica Cabeen shares that setting goals allows students to “track their achievements, celebrate milestones, and assess areas for improvement.” The areas in which students most often create goals are:

1. Setting clear academic expectations: achieving a specific GPA, mastering a challenging subject, or participating in extracurricular activities.
2. Developing effective time management skills: creating a weekly schedule that sets aside time for dedicated studying, completion of assignments, and leisure activities while attempting to strike a balance between academic commitments and personal passions.
3. Establishing healthy study habits: breaking down complex topics into manageable chunks and incorporating a variety of learning methods, such as flashcards or group study sessions. Regularly reviewing and summarizing information helps reinforce student understanding.

MPA students are wise and talented young adults who strive to do the best they can each day. They see the value in establishing goals for themselves and then working with their peers and adults in their lives to achieve them. We are lucky to work with and learn from them! I look forward to seeing you on campus soon.