February 22, 2024
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
Mark Your Calendars
- Thursday, February 22: Head of School Search Parent/Guardian Listening Session, 7 PM, see email for link
- Thursday, February 22: Upper School Band and Orchestra Concert, 7:30-8:30 PM, Nicholson Center
- Friday, February 23: Head of School Search Parent/Guardian Listening Session, 8:15-9 AM, Gallery
- Friday, February 23: US BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting, 11:20 AM-12 PM, Room 150-151
- Saturday, February 24: Head of School Search Parent/Guardian Listening Session, 10-10:45 AM, see email for link
- Sunday, February 25: US SAT Mini Prep Class, 10 AM-1:30 PM, Room 181
- February 26-March 1: SnoDaze Spirit Week
- Wednesday, February 28: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
- Thursday, February 29: Upper School Vocal Concert, 7:30-8:30 PM, Nicholson Center
- Friday, March 1: SnoDaze Assembly, 2:20-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
- Saturday, March 2: US SnoDaze Dance, 8-11 PM, US Commons
- Monday, March 11-Sunday, March 24: No Classes, Spring Break
- Monday, March 25: Classes Resume at 8 AM
- Tuesday, April 2: World Language Final Exams During Scheduled Class Time
- Wednesday, April 3: World Language Final Exams During Scheduled Class Time
- Thursday, April 4: Science Final Exams, 8:45-10:15 AM
- Thursday, April 4: English Final Exams, 12-1:30 PM
- Friday, April 5: Math Final Exams, 8:45-10:15 AM
- Friday, April 5: Social Studies Final Exams, 12-1:30 PM
- Friday, April 5: End of Quarter 3
- Monday, April 8: Quarter 4 Begins
- Wednesday, April 10: No Classes, Professional Development Day
- Thursday, April 11: Parents Association Culture Day, 3-6 PM, Family Commons
- Saturday, April 13: National ACT Test Date, 8 AM-1 PM, Lansing Sport Center
- Thursday, April 18: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Nicholson Center
- Friday, April 19: MPA Spring Auction, 6:30-11 PM, Dellwood Golf Club
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.
- We are entering Upper School winter concert season this week. The Upper School Band and Orchestra Concert is scheduled for this Thursday, February 22, at 7:30 PM. Then, the Upper School Choral Concert is scheduled for next Thursday, February 29. The students look forward to sharing their love of music and their hard work with you during these concerts.
- Be on the lookout for information about the 2024 MPA Spring Auction, Together We Can Move Mountains, scheduled for Friday, April 19 at Dellwood Golf Club. This is your chance to attend a night of fun, inspiration, and community building while supporting MPA with fellow parents, alumni, and friends.
In high school, experiential field trips play a pivotal role in enhancing the educational journey of students. They are offered invaluable real-world experiences that go beyond the four walls of traditional classroom learning. According to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, “students who participate in field trips show significantly higher achievement in (science) subjects compared to their peers who do not have the same opportunities.” This can be attributed to the real-life learning experiences that field trips provide.
Within the past couple of weeks, MPA Upper School students have had the opportunity to go on some amazing field trips. For the 34th time, tenth-grade students spent two nights and three days at the Deep Portage Conference Center in Hackensack, MN. In addition to great exposure to the northern woods, the students contributed to a long-term bacteria growth study. The time spent together, as a class, focused on character development and group bonding while enriching the self-awareness and understanding of members of the Class of 2026. For the first time in many years, the agenda of the trip needed to be adjusted to accommodate the uncharacteristically warm temperatures. Students still, however, could spend time under the beautiful Northwoods skies, and a handful of them continued the tradition of sleeping outside during one of the nights.
This past weekend, 14 members of the Mounds Park Academy Speech traveled to the prestigious Harvard University National Speech and Debate tournament. The tournament included teams from 38 different states, categories exceeding 300 entries each, and is a precursor to the NSDA National Tournament in June. On one of the country’s largest stages in the activity, our students shined through three days of competition.
Beyond academic achievement, experiential field trips are crucial for the development of social skills and personal growth. A survey by the American Psychological Association highlighted that students who participate in school-sponsored field trips exhibit improved social interactions, empathy, and a greater sense of cultural awareness.
These trips help students identify their interests, passions, and talents and serve as a fundamental component that enriches students’ academic knowledge, social skills, and personal growth.
I look forward to seeing you on campus (or on one of the many wonderful MPA-sponsored field trips) soon!
