August 29, 2024
from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director
Mark Your Calendars
- Monday, September 2: No Classes, Labor Day
- Tuesday, September 3: Alumni Current Parent Coffee, 8-9:30 AM, Gallery
- Wednesday, September 4: LS CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-9 AM, Family Commons
- Friday, September 6: School Photos, 7:30 AM-12 PM, Indoor Track, Non-Uniform Day
- Friday, September 6: Ice Cream Social, 3-4 PM, South Lawn
- Thursday, September 12: MS/LS Curriculum Night, 6-8 PM, Classrooms
- Sunday, September 15: Admission & Indexed Tuition Applications Open
- Friday, September 20: LS Duty-Free Lunch with Parent Volunteers, 11:30 AM-12:45 PM, Playground and Family Commons
Welcome (back) to the MPA Lower School!
Since the first day, the children have embarked on their exciting learning journey for the 2024-25 academic year. The start of the year was remarkable in its positivity, with many smiling faces, buzzing classrooms, and happy children. Thank you for partnering with us as we offer a warm welcome and homecoming for our learners! As we look toward the coming months, please note that every week, a Panther Post will come to your inbox, chock full of helpful information, reminders, and news with every other week including Division News. Please read on for some insights for the next few weeks:
Revised Lower School Uniform Policy
At Mounds Park Academy, our Lower School students benefit from wearing uniforms, as they contribute to a positive and equitable school climate and a sense of belonging. Uniforms help to underscore consistency and cohesion while also emphasizing each student’s dignity and well-being. Our uniform policy is designed to be gender inclusive. Any student can wear any part of the uniform. Parents are welcome to source the items from various retailers and price points. Please note that we have revised our uniform policy in the Lower School to be more inclusive and practical. Feel free to let us know if you have any questions!
Grades 2-4 MAP Assessments Starting in September
As shared toward the end of last school year, the Lower School will shift from FastBridge screening to NWEA MAP assessments for all students in Grades 2-4. MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments are not standardized tests; they are adaptive, growth-oriented, and norm-referenced assessments that help us to see the strengths and areas of growth for each learner. MAP assessments were piloted in the Middle School during the 2023-24 academic year, and now MPA will offer the assessment for all students in Grades 2-8 twice per academic year (fall and spring). As a result of the MAP assessment and other educational data collected by teachers, some students are identified as potentially benefiting from additional support to help them meet their learning goals. At home, the best preparation for any assessment is nothing out of the ordinary: proper sleep and good nutrition. We look forward to sharing the MAP results with families shortly after they are completed. Please stay tuned for the exact dates for assessments and the sharing of the results, which are coming soon!
K-Grade 1 FastBridge Screening Starting in September
The MPA Lower School offers FastBridge Learning screening tests up to three times each academic year. These screeners help our teachers to identify the current phase of development in literacy and math skills for each child so that we can offer more personalized learning opportunities for students. The teachers review the screening scores as one piece of data in context with other information gathered about each child’s learning journey. As a result of the screeners and other educational data collected by teachers, some students are identified as potentially benefiting from additional support to help them meet their learning goals.
At home, the best preparation for any assessment is nothing out of the ordinary: proper sleep and good nutrition. We look forward to sharing the FastBridge results with families shortly after they are completed. Please stay tuned for the exact dates for screening and sharing of the results, coming soon!
Wednesday, September 4: First CHAMP Assembly
On September 4, we will kick off our Character Happens at Mounds Park (CHAMP) program with social-emotional regulation engagements, songs, news and chances for our learners to shine. Families are welcome to join us from 8:15-9 AM in the Family Commons. Please remind your child to wear their CHAMP shirts to school on Wednesday!
Friday, September 6: Make-up Picture Day, Non-Uniform Day
Make-up picture day will be held on Friday, September 6. Friday will be a non-uniform day for all students.
Thursday, September 12: Curriculum Night
Hosted on Thursday, September 12, from 6-8 PM, Curriculum Night is a night for new and returning families to meet their child(ren)’s teachers and learn more about our program in lower school. Teachers will share highlights of the curriculum, our learning scope and sequence, community expectations, and what to expect this year. We look forward to seeing you there!
