January 25, 2024
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
Mark Your Calendars
- Friday, January 26: US BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting, 11:20-12 PM, Room 150-151
- Friday, January 26: PA Parent Trivia Night, 6-8 PM, Family Commons
- Friday, January 26: US Winter Show, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” 7-8:30 PM, Black Box, tickets >
- Saturday, January 27: MPA vs SPA Varsity Basketball at Target Center, 9 AM (girls), 11 AM (boys), tickets >
- Saturday, January 27: US Winter Show, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” 7-8:30 PM, Black Box, tickets >
- Tuesday, January 30: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Nicholson Center
- Wednesday, January 31: US ACT Prep Class, 5:30-8:30 PM, Room 181
- Thursday, February 1: US Cabaret Concert, 7:30-8:30 PM, Family Commons
- Friday, February 2: Re-Enrollment Agreements Sent
- Friday, February 2: US BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting, 11:20 AM-12 PM, Room 150-151
- Friday, February 2: US Winter Show, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” 7-8:30 PM, Black Box, tickets >
- Saturday, February 3: US Winter Show, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” 7-8:30 PM, Black Box, tickets >
- Sunday, February 4: US Winter Show, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” 3-4:30 PM, Black Box, tickets >
- Wednesday, February 7-Friday, February 9: Grade 10 Deep Portage Trip
- Friday, February 16: No Classes, Professional Development
- Monday, February 19: No Classes, Presidents’ Day
- Monday, February 19: US SAT Mini Prep Class, 5-8:30 PM, Room 181
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.
- The members of the Winter Show class are proud to present “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” in the Black Box Theatre over the next two weekends. Dates and show times can be found above. Tickets are $8 for students and $12 for adults. Tickets can be purchased here. The show is recommended for ages 10 and up.
- Students’ quarter two and semester one grades will be available late in the day next Monday (January 29). Please reach out to the Upper School office if we can help you access this information.
Two weeks ago, I wrote about the importance of setting New Year’s resolutions and goals as we returned from winter break and entered 2024. Following the theme of “renewal,” this week students started a new semester and returned to their quarter one non-elective classes. As students step into a new academic term, they are presented with the opportunity to have a fresh start as they leave behind the challenges and setbacks of the past as they look ahead to establishing a fresh start for the semester that lies ahead. The beginning of a new semester provides students with the chance to redefine their expectations and cultivate positive habits in their classes. Starr Sackstein, an author, teacher, and school leader in New York shares, “one of the best parts of a new term is that it doesn’t matter what happened yesterday, when we roll up to school and the bell rings, we all have a clean slate and with that comes infinite potential.”
With each new semester comes the prospect of exploring new and unchartered academic territories and discovering untapped potential. Students can reassess their study strategies and prioritize improvement over the past quarter or semester. The opportunity to experience a “reboot” reminds us that learning is a dynamic process and that we are all on an academic journey. According to Traci Cornett, a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Lexington, Kentucky, “a lot of people move forward without a clear action plan or the discipline to carry through, and that leaves them right where they left off.” Students (and families) should assess and reassess their priorities to successfully chart their path as they look ahead to the end of the school year. In essence, the beginning of a new semester in upper school is a doorway to a world of possibilities, encouraging students to embrace change, pursue excellence, and shape their educational journey with enthusiasm and optimism.
I look forward to seeing you on campus soon!
