Mounds Park Academy

February 7, 2019

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

We are fortunate to live in an older neighborhood in Minneapolis. Our house, built in 1915, is more than 100 years old and has a warm, comfortable feel to it. However, with two parents, two children, two dogs, and aging parents, we made the decision several years ago to add on a new kitchen, a bathroom on the first floor, and a family room in the basement. The old kitchen was so small that I could touch the counter and cupboards on one side and easily touch the sink and counter on the other side. Cozy doesn’t quite capture the feeling of what it was like to cook in that small space and it limited what we were able to prepare and serve for our family and loved ones.

We love our house and can’t imagine living anywhere else. However, as our family evolved, our needs did too. We needed to change how we lived. Schools are like that too. Over time, our vision of education changes and the needs of our students emerge in ways that cause us to outgrow the spaces that served us so well for so long. Mounds Park Academy is no exception. Throughout the history of the school, we have renovated and added on to the original building constructed in 1958 to better meet the changing needs of our students. Read More

Be Part Of A Wonderful Tradition

February 7, 2019

Please sign-up to volunteer and help make this year’s Book Festival a success! Lots of helpers are needed to put together this wonderful annual tradition at MPA. The goal of Book Festival is to promote the joy of reading, and the MPA Parents Association invites you to come enjoy the many activities offered during Book Festival week, February 25-28!

February 25-28
Bookstore in the Gallery & Used Book Sales During Lunch
Used, donated books will be for sale outside the cafeteria during lunch. All books are $0.25 each!

February 28, 3-6:30 PM
Book Festival Family Night
Lots of activities, games, and crafts in the Makerspace, plus the bookstore and dinner.

If you have any questions or want to get involved, contact Seema Anwar at seema_anwar@hotmail.com.

Minnesota Scholastic Writing Awards Recipient

February 6, 2019

Congratulations to senior, Émilie Davidson!

Her writing portfolio entitled ‘Selected Works’ received a Gold Key Award at the Minnesota Scholastic Writing Awards. Her work is currently being considered in New York City for national recognition. She will be honored at a ceremony in April, hosted by the Minnesota Writing Project.

Congratulations Emma Stacy ’15

February 4, 2019

Congratulations to MPA alumna Emma Stacy ’15 who is currently a senior at Scripps College, and who was one of 11 members of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps swimming and diving team to go to the NCAA Division III Championships in Indianapolis last year. Furthermore, she also traveled to Malaysia with the Keck Science Department to present her paper on the environmental effects of renewable energy technology.

To read how Emma found a community at Scripps through swimming, as well as more of her accomplishments, click here.

Middle School Quiz Bowl Results

February 4, 2019

Congratulations to the Middle School Quiz Bowl team who competed in the GEMSTONE Middle School Quiz Bowl Tournament in Burnsville this past weekend!

MPA A (Anthony T., Sophia S., Aidan H., and Gabe M.) finished 3rd out of 40 teams.

MPA B (Akshay S., Maya A., Molly V., Ben M., and Ian F.) finished 5th out of 40 teams, which qualifies them for the NAQT National Tournament in Chicago in May.

Additionally, out of 183 players, Akshay S. placed 5th (Trophy Winner), Anthony T. placed 13th, Gabe M. placed 22nd, and Ben M. placed 33rd.

Way to go, Panthers! Good luck at the National Tournament in May!

Social Media: Online And On Edge

January 31, 2019

by Jenn Milam, Ph.D., Middle School Director, Mounds Park Academy

Just last week I had the privilege of sitting among fellow Middle School parents to hear a presentation prepared and expertly delivered by Ms. Mohn’s Upper School women’s literature students about the power and dangers of online vulnerability that exist in and through social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and any number of newly emerging applications. This parent education session serendipitously followed my attending a screening of the new film, “LIKE: A Documentary About the Impact of Social Media on our Lives,” with my family just a few days before.

What is clear to me as I write this piece is that now, more than ever, we must have open, honest, informed, and critical conversations surrounding not only how we (yes, you and I) and our children are using social media; but more, how it is using us. While online interactions in these virtual worlds may seem somewhat disconnected from reality, make no mistake the influence of the social connections, comments, tweets, direct messages, chats, and images that are exchanged online spill over into the very fiber of our daily lives, and into our beings as humans.

It is present each day that the Middle School students walk through the halls at MPA, when they play basketball afterschool, and attend Quiz Bowl tournaments on the weekend. It’s likely present in Lower School students’ experiences as they attend birthday parties and playdates and parents post pictures with captions on Facebook. And, yes, in Upper Schoolers’ interactions as they navigate college acceptances, celebrations, personal life moments, and social dynamics and move into adulthood.

Does this seem overwhelming? If you answered yes, you are not alone. The good news is, we can change our behavior and therefore, change the impact that social media has on our lives and those of our children. Read More

Free Food For Thought Friday

January 31, 2019

Friday, February 1 is Free Food For Thought Friday at MPA! This is a wonderful opportunity for students who normally don’t take hot lunch or who haven’t for a while, to try MPA’s program.

A MESSAGE FROM SAGE: SAGE is excited to partner with Mounds Park Academy for this fun event! Come and enjoy lunch on us! We know you’ll love the selections we have to offer. That day features a crowd favorite—house-baked chicken tenders, quesadillas, and brown sugar sweet potatoes. You’ll also find a build-your-own California Cobb salad, creamy baked mac and cheese, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, and much more. Our team will be proud to serve you. Come and experience the passion and care that goes into every meal we create here at Mounds Park Academy!
Read More

Late Start Thursday Update

January 30, 2019

Mounds Park Academy continues to plan for a 10 AM start tomorrow, Thursday, January 31, with regular activities being held after school, including Pajamarama. Arrival should be at 9:30 AM or later. None of the buses to MPA will operate in the morning. In the afternoon, the MPA buses will operate, however, the routes within District 622 will not.

We will continue to monitor the forecast and if anything changes, we will notify families before 6 AM via email, text, voicemail, moundsparkacademy.org, and social media.

Please use caution when traveling to campus and know that tardies are excused during inclement weather. As always, if you determine that your/your student’s commute is too difficult or unsafe, the absence will also be excused—students are still responsible for work missed.

Please take good care and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning!

Severe Cold Closure

January 28, 2019

We have been closely monitoring the forecast today and have made the difficult decision to cancel all classes, activities, practices, and events for Tuesday, January 29 and Wednesday, January 30 due to extreme cold. In addition, we will have a 10 AM start on Thursday, January 31. Arrival should be at 9:30 AM or later. No buses will run on Thursday morning.

Students and/or parents should login to Schoology after 10 AM Tuesday to check if their teacher(s) have posted an assignment.

This is not a decision we take lightly as we balance the safety of our students and families with the commitment that we make to instructional time. Safety is always our highest priority.

Please take good care and we look forward to seeing you on Thursday morning!

School Closed Monday, January 28

January 27, 2019

Good evening, MPA Families –

Due to the weather conditions predicted overnight, and the forecasted road conditions, classes at Mounds Park Academy will be cancelled tomorrow, Monday, January 28. This includes all activities, practices, and events.

This is not a decision we take lightly. We have been in close communication with our bus company, First Student, and we have been monitoring the conditions closely. We believe it is in the best interest of all families that we not hold school tomorrow.

Please stay safe and warm. We look forward to seeing you on campus Tuesday!

Sincerely,
Dr. Bill Hudson
Head of School