November 8, 2018
The Parents Association has many exciting upcoming community events! There are all-school, Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School events to join in on.
All School:
MPA Faculty and Staff Gift Wrapping
Join us for the annual MPA Faculty and Staff Gift Wrapping! As a continuation of Faculty and Staff Appreciation during the school year, the MPA Parents Association has a tradition of wrapping gifts for the MPA Faculty and Staff. Come be a part of this joyful experience! Sign up here to volunteer and wrap gifts for one hour, two hours, or as long as you like! The Parents Association will provide the gift wrapping and all the necessary equipment. We will also provide snacks and drinks–maybe a little holiday music, too! Please contact Tara Matthews-Lafferty at TMattRN@aol.com with any questions.
Parent Coffee
On Monday, November 12, from 8-9 AM in the Atrium, all parents are invited to join us for coffee and refreshments. This Parent Coffee is generously hosted by the Lower School grade reps.
Book Festival
Book Festival is an enjoyable community-building event that celebrates the joy of reading. The Parents Association encourages parents to help with planning this event! A planning meeting will be held on Friday, November 30 from 2-3 PM in the PA room. We hope to see you there! Read More
Laurel Schwartz ’11 will be discussing stories passed down through generations, and how they tell us about the past and also shape the future. As human beings we are predisposed to sharing our life and our histories with others. For so long, the narratives in the news, in books and on the big screen have highlighted a single story that often left many people and identities in the margins. Now, every person has the capacity and the platform to be a storyteller with an audience. And, with that, comes our ability to change the world.
Kelly Turpin ’04’s talk will be covering her journey as an opera singer to artistic activist, which is how Arbeit Opera Theatre came to be. She has always wanted to make a difference, be at the forefront of change and societal progress, but only recently discovered how she could do that with her background in opera.
For years, MPA senior Julia Portis saw Breakthrough’s offices she passed them in the hallway; however, before her junior year she did not know what the program entailed. Upon learning about Breakthrough’s mission and curriculum, she excitedly applied to be a teaching fellow. The 9-week program brought several things to her attention: there are serious flaws in the educational system, and Minnesota suffers from one of the highest opportunity gaps in America. She believes it is imperative that we bring attention to this issue and start a conversation.
MPA Senior Gabby Law is going to talk about education–if education is the “key to success in life,” why is the system failing so many people? As a teaching fellow for Breakthrough Twin Cities, Gabby saw the incredible students in our community that the education system is leaving behind. Through her experience, Gabby will explain how we can make school a place for everyone and show just how powerful and joyful learning is for those who need it the most.
The cast and crew of “Walk Two Moons” are so excited to perform next week! The show premieres in the Black Box Theatre on Friday, November 16 at 7 PM, Saturday, November 17 at 2 PM, and Sunday, November 18 at 2 PM. 
When an alarming amount of birds were mistakenly flying into the windows at MPA, it did not take long for community members to band together and find a solution. MPA parent Michelle Wessely, who has been working extensively on the gardens and outdoor spaces on campus, noticed a sad amount of birds, including a hummingbird, that had died from flying into the school’s windows. She brought the issue up to Middle School science teacher Ms. Nagle, who then recruited her sixth graders to save the birds.
In conjunction with their current literature unit based on the book “Granny Torrelli Makes Soup,” MPA fourth graders had a special visitor! Ms. David, a former third grade teacher who was born blind, and her guide dog, Raz, helped the students understand what life is like being blind and better understand Bailey, one of the main characters in the novel.
MPA is making an important transition of its online community directory into Schoology. Starting December 1, the community directory will no longer be on the MPA website at 
Don’t miss this new opportunity to meet the Parents Association! This Saturday, November 3, the PA is hosting several neighborhood coffee events, where you can come and meet MPA parents who live in your neighborhood. Parents of all grades are welcome!
Congratulations to MPA Cross Country coach Nate Bander ’09 for being named the Section 4A Assistant Cross Country Coach of the Year! To celebrate his accomplishment, we interviewed Coach Bander about why coaching and athletics are so important to him.
MPA junior Quincy Lewis, along with a group of students from Breck and other local independent schools, went on a trip to three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) over the long MEA weekend.