September 12, 2024
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
Mark Your Calendars
- Friday, September 13: PA Grade Rep Meeting, 8-9 AM, Family Commons
- Sunday, September 15: New Student Admission & Indexed Tuition Applications Open
- Tuesday, September 17: US G9/New G10 Students Signs of Suicide Screening
- Wednesday, September 18: US G11 Signs of Suicide Screening
- Thursday, September 19: US Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
- Sunday, September 22: Twin Cities Partnership College Fair, 1-3 PM, Breck School
- Monday, September 23-Saturday, September 28: Homecoming Week
- Friday, September 27: PreK-12 Spirit Wear Day
- Friday, September 27: G3-12 Homecoming Assembly, 2:30-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
- Friday, September 27: US Homecoming BBQ, 5-7 PM, Courtyard, US Commons (rain back-up)
- Friday, September 27: Hall of Fame Dinner, 6-8 PM, Family Commons, RSVP here >
- Saturday, September 28: Homecoming, information here >
- Saturday, September 28: US Homecoming Dance, 8-11 PM, MPA Campus
- Tuesday, October 1: School Photo Retakes, 8-10 AM, Indoor Track
- Tuesday, October 1: US Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, PCR
- Saturday, October 5: Debate Tournament, 7 AM-4 PM, US and MS Classrooms
One of the most wonderful things about being an Upper School administrator is that I get to be a fly on the wall of the social and academic lives of young adults. Having the ability to sit in the Family Commons as they eat lunch, drop into a classroom to listen to their discussions, and casually watch them as they engage with one another in the Upper School Commons is a benefit that comes with the job. This year has been different than past years as students have focused on their interpersonal relationships and in-person communication rather than being distracted by their cellular telephones.
In a recent article for Educational Leadership, classroom teacher Matthew Kays shared, “The focus on and distraction of cell phones took up more and more class time, and had a noticeable (negative) effect on the amount of work students got done.” With this realization, last spring Kays’ school required that students “separated” from their phones. Within just a few weeks, Kays and his colleagues reported that “Students’ production during work periods went back to what we were seeing from 2006-2016. … almost none of our interactions were about managing (and taking) students’ phones.”
As you know, this year, the MPA Upper School has instituted a new policy where cell phones are not to be used, heard, or visible on the MPA campus during regular school hours (8 AM-3 PM) unless specifically authorized by a teacher or administrator. This includes all classes, study halls, lunch, recess, and passing time. Often, during these first couple of weeks of school, when I saw Upper School parents, they would ask how many phones were turned into the office. Each time, I happily reply that less than a dozen phones have been collected as students, initially grudgingly, are not only complying with but are embracing this adjustment.
Just earlier this week, the attorney generals of 42 states joined together to call on Congress to pass legislation implementing the Surgeon General’s proposal to require official warnings on social media platforms. They state, “Young people are facing a mental health crisis, which is fueled in large part by social media, and that this generational harm demands immediate action. By mandating a surgeon general’s warning on algorithm-driven social media platforms, Congress can help abate this growing crisis and protect future generations of Americans.”
I know that we are just three weeks into the school year and that significant work lies ahead of us to maintain our new policy. In my role as a fly on the wall, however, I have seen much improved student-to-student interactions, and this separation for cell phones is one of the reasons I am very excited about the 2024-25 school year.
I look forward to seeing and personally interacting with you on campus soon.
Important Information
- If your student will be absent, late, or needs to be excused early from school, please reach out to upper school administrative assistant, Chanda Williams, via email at cwilliams@moundsparkacademy.org.
- Class of 2025 Reminder: Please remember to complete the online form with your student’s name on their graduation diploma. The deadline for this is Friday, September 13. Please reach out to Mark Segal should you have questions.
- As we work to teach students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend, Mounds Park Academy is offering depression screening and suicide prevention training to all MPA ninth and 11th graders and all new 10th-grade students on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 17 and 18 as part of the SOS Signs of Suicide Program. The program teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages them to seek help. SOS has been used by thousands of schools for over 20 years. Studies have shown that it effectively teaches students about depression and suicide while reducing the number of students’ self-reported suicide attempts. Information was shared last week with the families of students involved in this education and screening. Should you have questions, please contact Upper School assistant director Jay Dean, jdean@moundsparkacademy.org or school counselor Ashley Cooper, acooper@moundsparkacademy.org.
- MPA Homecoming is scheduled for the week of September 23. There will be “wacky” dress-up days, a Grade 3-12 Homecoming Assembly (Friday afternoon), a special FREE BBQ for Upper School students on Friday, various athletic contests on Saturday, and the annual on-campus Homecoming Dance on Saturday night. Please don’t miss the opportunity to participate in the wonderful festivities.
- All school fall conferences are right around the corner. They will take place 3:30-8 PM on Thursday, October 10, and 8 AM-5 PM on Friday, October 11. More information will be shared toward the end of the month regarding signing up for conferences, but for those new to the community, Upper School students participate in their conferences and are required to attend.
