Mounds Park Academy

The Book Cellar Offers Rest And Rejuvenation

August 31, 2017

Librarian Nancy Lage has been watching a corner of the Library evolve into The Book Cellar since last year. While students voted on the name, Ms. Lage and Ms. Petrich developed the idea, collaborating with students and former Middle School faculty member Mr. Schwieger to create a space for reading and research for Upper School students, but even more importantly, rest, and rejuvenation. “Kids need a change of scenery sometimes,” Ms. Lage said.

Junior Ethan Berning made the sign for the entrance while Juniors, Lily Madore and Mats Dahlberg painted the entryway with a medieval design, giving it a distinct look and feel. Beyond the entrance, the space transforms into a cozy nook with leather furniture, a wall dedicated to inspiring and kind notes, a Keurig for tea and hot chocolate and soft, glowing lights dangling from the ceiling. Through The Book Cellar’s wide windows are unique animal sightings and greenery, including a nearby tree with the reflected illusion of being lit by the twinkling lights.

Head’s Message: Meet Dr. AnnMarie Thomas

August 31, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

How do we raise children who are creative, lifelong learners? It’s a question educators and parents alike continually wrestle with, especially in light of our rapidly-changing world. It’s also a question that Dr. AnnMarie Thomas, Associate Professor in the School of Engineering and the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas, has dedicated her life’s work to answering. The solution, in part, is creating and maximizing opportunities for students to follow their own intrinsic path to discovery and take control of their learning. The newly completed Makerspace gives MPA students an amazing advantage and exemplifies our school’s commitment to preparing students to “live, learn, and thrive” in today’s complex, global society.

I am pleased to announce that our new Makerspace will be named in honor of Dr. Thomas. The AnnMarie Thomas Makerspace is the only creative center of its kind in the Twin Cities for students in grades PreK through 12. Given the long-standing approach at Mounds Park Academy of hands-on, experiential learning that integrates science, technology, math with the humanities and the arts, the Makerspace fits perfectly alongside the work of Dr. Thomas.

We Make Meaning

August 24, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Walking through the halls today, one can feel the energy and joyfulness as the MPA community comes together once more. I have been struck by the goodwill and genuine warmth as I see students greet one another, parents reconnect with each other, and teachers welcoming students to their classrooms.

Our Solar Eclipse Viewing Party on Monday was evidence of the strength of the MPA community. There was a wealth of opportunities available to view the eclipse offered by towns and libraries, museums, and nature centers throughout the metro area, yet more than 400 choose to experience it here at MPA. Coupled with educational activities, the event expressed what makes MPA unique—hands-on, experiential, and joyful learning.

Joyful is also the word I would choose to describe Back to School Night. Even those who lament getting up early or the return of homework were swept up in the joy of coming back to school. I am continually surprised by how much a child can grow in just a few short months and how much more mature they become. I enjoyed hearing many wonderful stories of summer adventures and achievements.

Back to School With Joy

August 20, 2017

It seems like just yesterday we were sharing, Ideas for a Learning-Rich Summer. Now, here we are preparing for the start of school. The back-to-school transition is upon us, and our school community is bustling with excitement.

Everyone, children and adults alike, handles transition differently. Some people naturally embrace it, celebrating and welcoming the change. Others worry about the unknowns or focus on what they didn’t accomplish, instead of what they did, dampening their enthusiasm for what lies ahead.

Wherever you are on the back-to-school-enthusiasm spectrum—and we find that most Mounds Park Academy students and family are high on the scale—we hope that our Lower School families in particular will find some useful tips below as you prepare for the 2017-2018 academic year.

Celebrate The Summer

For parents of school-age children, particularly those in elementary school, summer days can swing from moments of pure joy to ones of frustration. You can wish for the summer to never end one minute, and then beg for late August to arrive the next. That’s why we think it’s important to reflect on the summer as a whole and celebrate the adventures, big and small, that made up your 2017 summer. Here are some suggested ways to celebrate the summer:

Spend a carefree afternoon. Summer should include some relaxation, yet in today’s world, relaxation can be rare. So lounge by a lake, on a beach or in a hammock in these remaining days of summer and enjoy some quiet time.
Create a photo book of summer memories. This could be as simple as creating a collage with photos printed on a home printer. Engage your child in its creation and reflect on their favorite parts of the summer.
Draw pictures of your best family memory or write a story about it. Grab the crayons or the markers and some paper and draw or write away. Don’t let your child have all the fun, though. Release your inner
Focus on what you accomplished, not what you didn’t. Many people start the summer with a long list of potential summer activities. Often we run out of time to pursue them all. Celebrate what you did do instead of starting the school year with a pang of we-didn’t-quite-get-to-that regret.

“I take time to reflect and write down everything I did (big or small) that I can remember. My list usually ends up being so long that I cannot believe I did so much in such a short time. I end up being very excited about all the things I did that summer and look forward to making a new school-year list.” – Karen Rossbach, MPA Lower School and Upper School Art Teacher

Ideas for a Learning-Rich Summer

June 8, 2017

By Dr. Bill Hudson, Mounds Park Academy Head of School

Summer was made for students. That might sound counterintuitive for the head of an independent PreK–12 school to say, but please hear me out.

Consider the words that best describe the students who call MPA home: freethinkers, free spirits, risk takers, right makers. Dreamers and doers. Throughout the school year, we promote these qualities across our academic and extracurricular activities. We create days that are filled with wonder so that students emerge from each year even more joyful, confident, and creative than they were in the fall.

Then summer comes. Extra time, a slower pace, and beautiful weather, all set the perfect stage for MPA students, and all children, to continue developing those qualities on their own and with their families.

Full Circle

June 1, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

My grandmother used to say that everything comes full circle, that in one way or another, we end up where we began. As we mark the end of the school year, we celebrate the ways in which the academic careers of our graduating seniors have come full circle.

This past week was the seniors’ last at MPA. They celebrated in a number of ways, including a fun senior “prank.” (I must share with you that MPA is the only school I know of where the seniors work with the administration in advance to plan their prank.) Upper School teachers served them waffles for breakfast and I treated them to Chipotle for lunch. For me, the lunch comes full circle from last fall when I met with them in groups of 10 over lunch and asked them to share with me their college dreams. Having come full circle, they received offers of admission from 113 different colleges and universities in 31 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada. Next fall they plan to matriculate to 33 different schools in 14 states.

Advice For Their Kindergarten Friends

May 26, 2017

We asked several members of the Class of 2017 what advice they have for the members of the Class of 2029, current kindergartners. Here are a few of their thoughts …

“Being fair and passionate never goes out of style. Don’t lose sight of what you want to do. Sometimes your kindergarten passion is your lifelong passion. Don’t abandon it too soon.”
–Jack Gangestad

“I would advise the Class of 2029 to be grateful for the opportunities at MPA and to be appreciative of the time they have here, since it goes fast!”
–Eloise Berdahl-Baldwin

Rigor with Purpose in Engineering & Design

May 26, 2017

Upper School students in Engineering & Design were recently set free to ask two very important questions that get at the heart of science and the core of engineering: What is your need and how can I help? Students were then able to produce real solutions in 3-D.

Marc Shapiro, a Mounds Park Academy science faculty member and MPA’s FIRST Robotics coach, developed this project, which had two goals: to introduce students to 3-D printing and provide a useful device to an MPA faculty or staff member.

To determine genuine needs, Shapiro surveyed faculty and staff via email about what problems they had with their respective workspaces or how they wanted to enhance their classrooms. He compiled a list that he gave his students to review. For some teachers, those old-school rubber door stops just weren’t working; others wanted chairs that didn’t wobble. Each student ranked the projects according to interest, then Shapiro made the matches and let the students take it from there.

Finding The Right Kindergarten

May 26, 2017

by Renee Wright, Mounds Park Academy Lower School Director

What makes a strong kindergarten program? How do you know what will be a good fit for your child? Should you find a program that stresses academics, play, or one that promotes both? Is a public neighborhood school the right choice or a private one with small classes?

There is no one right answer, and every family needs to base the decision on what works best for its individual circumstances and family values. Given our experience at Mounds Park Academy, a private PreK–12 school in Saint Paul, Minnesota, we believe that strong kindergarten programs are places where the following occur: Read More

Honoring MPA’s Luminares

May 25, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I am notorious for having eyeglasses covered with fingerprints and smudges. I don’t always take the time to slow down and clean them on a regular basis. My mother would often exclaim, with equal parts resignation and frustration, “It’s a wonder you can see anything with those glasses!” She tells me the same thing about the windows in our house, admonishing me for letting them get so dingy. Mothers are always right, of course, and when I do clean them, I really do see and appreciate the difference, seeing the world anew, with a degree of clarity.