May 16, 2024
from Mark Segal, Upper School director, and Jay Dean, assistant Upper School director
Mark You Calendars
- Thursday, May 16: MS/US Band Concert, 7-8 PM, Nicholson Center
- Friday, May 17: Class of 2024 Last Day of Classes
- Friday, May 17: US BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting, 11:20 AM-12 PM, Room 150-151
- Friday, May 17: US Robotics Season-End Banquet, 3-7 PM, Family Commons
- Wednesday, May 22: US Choral Concert, 7-8 PM, Nicholson Center
- Friday, May 24: US Senior Class Meeting, 8-9 AM, Recital Hall
- Friday, May 24: Senior Performances, 10 AM, Recital Hall
- Friday, May 24: US Senior Lunch and Alumni Panel, 11 AM-1 PM, Nicholson Center
- Friday, May 24: US BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting, 11:20 AM-12 PM, Room 150-151
- Friday, May 24: Senior Walk, 1-1:45 PM, South Entrance
- Friday, May 24: Upper School Awards Assembly, 1:45-3 PM, Nicholson Center
- Monday, May 27: No Classes, Memorial Day
- Tuesday, May 28-29: US World Language Finals
- Tuesday, May 28: US Senior Service Fair, 1-4 PM, McKeown Track
- Wednesday, May 29: US World Language Finals
- Wednesday, May 29: LS/US Grade 4 Introduction to the Instruments Concert, 10:30-11:20 AM, Panther Center
- Wednesday, May 29: Madrigal Singers Auditions, 3-6 PM, Recital Hall
- Thursday, May 30: Development Open House & Volunteer Breakfast, 7:30-9:30 AM, Family Commons
- Thursday, May 30: Retirement Gathering, 4-6 PM, Library
- Friday, May 31: US Math Finals
- Friday, May 31: US BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting, 11:20 AM-12 PM, Room 150-151
- Friday, May 31: US English Finals, 12-1:30 PM
- Monday, June 3: MS/US End of Quarter
- Monday, June 3: US Science Finals, 8:45-10:15 AM
- Monday, June 3: US Social Studies Finals, 12-1:30 PM
- Tuesday, June 4: Last Day of School, All School Yearbook Assembly and Signing, 8-10:30 AM, Nicholson Center
- Tuesday, June 4: Dismissal, 10:30 AM, no afternoon care or transportation home
- Wednesday, June 5: US Senior Dinner, 6-8 PM, Dellwood Country Club
- Friday, June 7: Madrigal and Concert Choir Rehearsal, 10-11 AM, Nicholson Center
- Friday, June 7: US Mandatory Commencement Rehearsal, 11 AM-1 PM, Nicholson Center
- Saturday, June 8: US Commencement, 6-7 PM, Nicholson Center
For those of you who don’t know, as a requirement for graduation, MPA students must engage in at least 60 hours of community service during their Upper School years, including a focused, 30-hour project during their senior year. In the week leading up to graduation, students display these projects in a community-wide event we call Service-Con. The mission of this year’s Service-Con, developed by the students during Senior Seminar class earlier this year, is “MPA’s Service-Con creates a culture of service and communicates MPA’s values of volunteerism and community involvement. Meant to serve both MPA and external communities, Service-Con is an opportunity for Seniors to demonstrate the importance of service.”
The members of the Class of 2024 have been working hard, serving our school community and the community around us in myriad ways. To give you a taste of what will be on display at this year’s Service-Con, here are the names of some of our students’ projects: “Faces of Romanian Culture”; “‘Thanks, Bud!:’ A Stronger Support System for New Students”; “Looking Up: Local Community Astronomy Outreach”; “Acres for Life: Peaceful Pastures Zen Garden”; and “Women and Words: A Partnership with the Minnesota Women’s Press.” Fun fact: at the time of this publication, the Class of 2024 has recorded 3,079 hours of service (and counting!).
Service-Con will take place on Tuesday, May 28, from 1-4 PM on the McKeown Track. While this event features the students’ projects, we are also hosting a bake sale to raise funds for some of the organizations with which our students forged connections. Customers will have the opportunity to choose where their donations will go. Among the organizations we will support this year are Today’s Harvest, Habitat for Humanity, Seeds of Change, Front Porch, and Make-a-Wish Minnesota–organizations connected to projects our students worked on this year. In addition, we will be collecting food and clothing donations for a wide range of organizations including Valley Outreach, People Serving People, Second Harvest Heartland, Little Kitchen Food Shelf, and Sarah’s Oasis. Donation boxes will be set up in the North Entrance (inside Door #7) during Service-Con on May 28. Stay tuned for further details about the specific types of donations we’re looking for.
Service and community engagement have been important parts of the student experience for as long as MPA has existed, and we will continue to spotlight this important part of our students’ early education. This year, the seniors’ experiences have been deeply impactful for them personally and, more importantly, have impacted our surrounding community in meaningful ways.
We hope to see you on May 28!
Jay Dean, assistant Upper School director
Panther Post Guest Contributor
Jdean@moundsparkacademy.org
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.
- While the Minnesota weather remains unpredictable, the spring athletic season has arrived. Even though the athletic department works hard to stick to the established schedule, practice and game schedules can be extremely fluid due to the weather. For this reason, it is suggested that you bookmark the MPA Athletics website and ensure that the athletic department has the most up-to-date email addresses for you should there be a schedule adjustment.
- Please join members of the MPA community on Friday, May 24 as we celebrate the Class of 2024 and all students at the Senior Walk and Upper School Awards Assembly. The Senior Walk is a treasured tradition to celebrate the class of 2024 as they don their caps and gowns for the first time. Our community will gather along the south and west sides of the building to honor our this class as they prepare to close their upper school careers and look ahead to their next stage of their academic journey. Directly following the Senior Walk is the annual Upper School Awards Assembly in the Nicholson Center, where Upper School students will be recognized for their academic and community accomplishments. This special event is open to all community members and is one of several events scheduled to close out the 2023-2024 school year.
- Quarter 4 final exams are right around the corner. Please find below the schedule for the upcoming assessments:
- Wednesday, May 29: World Language Final Exams, during regularly scheduled classes
- Thursday, May 30: World Language Final Exams, during regularly scheduled classes
- Friday, May 31: Upper School Math Final Exams, 8:45-10:15 AM, Various Locations
- Friday, May 31: Upper School English Final Exams, 12-1:30 PM, Various Locations
- Monday, June 3: Upper School Science Final Exams, 8:45-10:15 AM, Various Locations
- Monday, June 3: Upper School Social Studies Final Exams, 12-1:30 PM, Various Locations
As a reminder, Upper School students are not required to be on campus when they do not have a final exam scheduled. Students allotted extended exam time will work directly with their teacher and Ms. Schwalen before their finals.
