April 10, 2025
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
Mark Your Calendars
- Friday, April 11: New Student Enrollment Deadline
- Monday, April 14: No Classes, Professional Development
- Monday, April 14: US G11 SAT, 8 AM-1 PM, Room 150-151
- Wednesday, April 16: US G10 College Counseling Parent Night, 6:30-7:30 PM, Recital Hall
- Friday, April 18: US Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Nicholson Center
- Thursday, April 24: Spring Musical: “The Wizard of Oz,” 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center, Tickets >
- Friday, April 25: MS/US Robotics Team Banquet, 5-8 PM, Family Commons
- Saturday, April 26: Spring Musical: “The Wizard of Oz,” 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center, Tickets >
- Sunday, April 27: Spring Musical: “The Wizard of Oz,” 2-4 PM, Nicholson Center, Tickets >
As the school year enters its home stretch, maintaining student motivation and engagement is increasingly important for academic success. Research from the American Psychological Association finds that student performance often declines during the fourth quarter, confirming that “spring fever” is a true and real educational phenomenon. The Association’s findings share that “while not a legitimate medical condition, ‘spring fever’ refers to the common feeling of restlessness, decreased motivation, and a desire for outdoor activities that can affect students as the weather warms and the school year nears its end.”
I would imagine this is especially true in communities like the Twin Cities, where our temperatures have been cold, and the students and educators arrived and went home from school in the dark. With proper support, open lines of communication, and strong, trusting relationships, students can maintain their momentum and finish the school year strongly.
It is for this reason that a strong parental partnership with the school can significantly and positively impact student achievement. This engagement can take various forms; from monitoring Schoology to maintaining regular communication with teachers and administrators, it is critical that students’ strong study habits are maintained. Dr. Sarah Thompson, a practicing educational psychologist and professor at Stanford University, suggests that “parents should help their high school students create realistic goals for the remainder of the school year by breaking them into manageable weekly objectives.”
It is important to remember that while academic success is important, it is also valuable for students to seek ways to maintain balance during the final quarter of the year. Managing stress through appropriate amounts of sleep, proper nutrition, and time outside (without technology) is critical to ending the school year on a high note.
The National Education Association emphasizes the importance of frequent and consistent school/parent contact during this crucial time of the school year. Parents should find ways to stay informed about daily assignments, projects, assessments, and graduation requirements (especially for members of the Class of 2025). By working together, parents and the school can continue to rely on the strong support system that helps students maintain focus and achieve their academic goals through the end of the school year and beyond.
I look forward to our continued partnership and seeing 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 at cwilliams@moundsparkacademy.org.
- Please join us later this month as young Dorothy Gale is swept away by a tornado from her Kansas farm to the magical land of Oz. Based on the 1939 movie, Dorothy meets a host of whimsical characters: Glenda the Good Witch, The Wicked Witch of the West, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. To find her way home, she must journey along the Yellow Brick Road to see the mysterious and all-powerful Wizard in Emerald City. Filled with all the familiar songs and the story that you know, this production is not your Grandma’s Oz. A Modern-day Kansas and a futuristic Oz will funnel in a new audience to the classic story. This production is appropriate for all ages. There are three performances scheduled in the Nicholson Center:
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- Thursday, April 24 at 7 PM
- Saturday, April 26 at 7 PM
- Sunday, April 27 at 2 PM
Tickets for this wonderful performance can be purchased here.
