December 19, 2024
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
Mark Your Calendars
- Friday, December 20: US Madrigal Singers and Chamber Orchestra Music Tour Field Trip
- Friday, December 20: Caroling with the Madrigal Singers, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni, 7:30-8 AM, Family Commons
- Monday, December 23-Friday, January 3: No Classes, Winter Break
- Wednesday, December 25: MPA Campus Closed
- Wednesday, January 1: MPA Campus Closed
- Monday, January 6: Classes Resume
- Wednesday, January 8: HeadSpace: Meeting Our Educational Promise Through A Competency Based Approach To Education, 7-8 PM, Virtual Meeting Via Zoom
As Upper School students, the importance of maintaining an active mind during breaks from school cannot be overstated. Breaks provide a vital opportunity to rest and recharge oneself, but they can also lead to a decline in academic engagement if not utilized wisely. One effective way to keep your brain engaged is to follow the advice that Dr. Hudson gives to students before they leave for summer break and read for pleasure. This practice not only enriches students’ knowledge but also enhances their creativity and critical thinking, two skills that are important for academic and personal success.
Reading for pleasure offers several benefits to students (and adults). It allows you to explore new ideas, cultures, and perspectives, which can broaden the understanding of the world around us. Engaging with a variety of literature—from novels to essays—stimulates our imagination and helps develop empathy by placing us in the figurative shoes of different characters, cultures, and contexts. It goes without saying that leisure reading can also improve vocabulary and writing skills, as exposure to different writing styles and structures enhances our own communicative abilities.
Well-respected teacher, principal, and educational consultant Kim Marshall annually shares a list of the “best books,” according to the School Library Journal. They consolidate books from a variety of different genres and age groups from which readers can choose. The list can be found here.
Ultimately, the key to a “successful” break lies in finding the balance between activities that promote both relaxation and intellectual engagement. Reading for pleasure is one of those simple yet powerful ways to keep our minds sharp and engaged while away from school (or work). So, as we all take a well-deserved break from our studies and professional responsibilities, consider picking up a book that piques your interest—grabbing a good book may just be the perfect way to nurture our brains while enjoying some downtime.
I look forward to hearing about the books you selected to read and to seeing you on campus soon.
Important Information
- Tomorrow, December 20, please join us on campus from 7:30-8 AM to witness a beautiful and heart-warming MPA tradition. Members of the Madrigals (an Upper School choir), faculty and staff, and MPA alumni will gather in the Family Commons to sing holiday carols and festive songs.
- If your student will be absent, late, or needs to be excused early from school, please contact the Upper School administrative assistant, Chanda Williams, at cwilliams@moundsparkacademy.org.
- Come cheer on our MPA Panther varsity basketball teams as they face off against St. Paul Academy at the iconic Target Center on Tuesday, January 7! Don’t miss this special opportunity to catch both high school games and enjoy an exclusive deal on tickets to a Minnesota Timberwolves game. The varsity girls will start the action at 5 PM, with the boys following the contest. Simply click this link to secure your spot and take advantage of this exciting offer.
