All School Archives

August 7, 2018

Hey, MPA!

In May I finished my freshman year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I am majoring in international business and finance. This summer, I’ve been fortunate enough to be an English tutor at an Italian summer camp. Throughout this experience, I’ve also taken a couple of awesome trips. One weekend I visited Lithuania and Latvia to hear the Dalai Lama speak. Another weekend I traveled to Spain to participate in the Running of the Bulls. As I encounter different cultures, I keep in mind all that I learned at MPA. I try to stay open- minded and learn as much as I can from others.

Go Panthers!

Isaac Esch

Young Alums Say Hello: Haley Finch ’14

August 7, 2018

Dear MPA,

Say hellooo to your 2018 Texas Christian University graduate, where I studied strategic communication  and Spanish. I’m currently in New York City, where I’m interning at Fallon ad agency as a copywriter. I’m working on Lime-a-Rita, Huawei, and many other accounts. Every day, I do something new. Whether it’s writing scripts for TV spots or thinking of big ideas for new clients, there is always something to be done. Interestingly enough, in high school I hated writing. If it wasn’t for Ms. Sommer’s dedication to me, I never would’ve pursued copywriting. I’m grateful  for MPA pushing me and opening doors to my future.

xoxo,

Haley Finch

Welcome To The Family

July 31, 2018

Enjoy these extended profiles of the amazing faculty and staff joining our community in the 2018-19 school year!

Ms. Martha Castellanos

What position will you be holding? Interim K-4 Spanish teacher
Tell us a little bit about your educational background. Elementary Education and Spanish Teacher Media and Library Specialist
What school/organization are you coming from? Singapore American School, Breck School and Anthony Middle School in Minneapolis
What did you find appealing about MPA? It feels great to return to the program I created years ago.
What are you most looking forward to this school year? To instill the love for learning Spanish and my culture to my students.
Any interesting facts about yourself or your family you would like to share? Our family loves to travel in order to learn, appreciate, and connect with peoples from other cultures.

Helping People Reach Their Dreams

July 31, 2018

Ross Kigner ’08 Is Helping People Reach Their Dreams

After graduating from MPA in 2008, I continued my academic and athletic careers at the University of Minneosta-Morris, graduating in 2012. Following graduation, I resumed my direct support professional work for New Directions, Inc., while preparing for my first year coaching football at Roseville Area High School. New Directions, Inc. is a family-run organization that provides support for adults with disabilities. Our purpose is to assist and support individuals in forming and achieving a life of their own choosing; that they may have personal well-being, satisfying personal relationships, participation in community life and engagement in preferred pursuits in their home and community. I gradually increased my responsibilities at New Directions including expense management, team management, and property management. Time has flown by, but I love my work because of the reward that comes with helping people reach their dreams.

The major hurdles we face at New Directions include staffing and providing the same support with decreased funding from the government. In my leadership role, I don’t have as many hands-on opportunities with the people we support as I once did, as my focus has shifted to big-picture topics centered around upholding the standard of support our organization has provided since 1981.

Congratulations to Deneane Richburg ’96!

June 7, 2018

The MPA Alumni Association Board of Directors is pleased to announce the first annual recipient of the MPA Alumni Association Award. This award is intended to honor alumni of outstanding talent pursuing their own creative, intellectual, and professional inclinations, while embracing the spirit of MPA’s commitment to community and social outreach.

Deneane Richburg ’96 embraces all of these attributes and more. As the artistic director and founder of Brownbody, a company that combines figure skating, modern dance and theater to explore African-American culture and history, Richburg explores themes of race, stereotyping and reconciliation while being mindful of diversity, inclusion and equity. Read More

Ready To Read This Summer

June 7, 2018

Reading is one of the many fun activities children do during the summer, and research shows that it’s so important. Children who read during the summer increase their reading level, build vocabulary, and expand their comprehension skills. Because we believe reading is an essential skill for our students, MPA is giving each child in Lower School the gift of a summer reading book and a journal!

All upcoming kindergarten and first grade students will be required to read “In My Heart; A Book of Feelings” by Jo Witek over the summer with a parent or guardian. There is also an assigned project for the children to complete after they read the book. This assignment should be done prior to the start of the 2018-19 school year and can be brought back to their new teacher at Back to School Night or the first day of school.

2018 Upper School Awards Assembly

June 7, 2018

Congratulations to all of the Upper School students who received honors and awards at the 2018 Upper School Awards Assembly! On Friday, June 1, the school gathered to commemorate all of these students’ achievements. Academic, National Merit, Scholarship, Yearbook, Choir, Band, Orchestra, Visual Art, Math, English, Science, Social Studies, Forensics, French, Spanish, Drama, Athletics, Service, Spirit of ’86, Junior Mission Statement, Certificate of Distinction, and Alumni Association awards were given. Please join us in congratulating the following students! View photos of the assembly or watch the assembly here!

Class Of 2018: Kate Van Hecke, Saint Paul, MN

June 6, 2018

As the 2017-18 school year comes to an end, we’re sharing the college choice stories of several members of the Class of 2018!

In what grade did you come to MPA? In fifth grade.

How did you come to choose the college that you did? I chose Wellesley because it valued curiosity, exploration, the empowerment of women, and educating the whole person—all things I value as well! I chose a women’s college because I want to surround myself with fierce, intelligent, and dedicated women who also care about the world around us. The world is coed, so being able to go to college in a place run by and dedicated to women is a phenomenal opportunity.

What are you most excited about as you embark on your college experience? I am so excited to continue studying foreign languages! Throughout my eight years at MPA, I’ve studied Spanish, French, and Arabic as well as Fante during my time abroad and the prospect of being able to add another language or two to that list is thrilling. I am also looking forward to learning to call a new place home—I’ve done it before, and it was incredibly rewarding.

MPA Spring Athletics Highlights

June 4, 2018

We are excited to share many updates and highlights from the 2018 spring athletics season! While the season got off to a wintry start, the MPA athletes and coaches made up for their lost time with various achievements. Please congratulate and celebrate them with us!

Senior Rachel Lindrud qualified for State and placed fourth in the Section Golf competition, scoring 49-43/43-37 172. She will be representing MPA as an individual at the State Meet at Pebble Creek in Becker on June 12 and 13.
The MPA boys golf team placed first in Section 4A and qualified for State, winning by 12 strokes: senior Brock Bliese scored 40-39/39-34 152, senior Matthew Berning scored 39-41/40-41 161, senior Jackson Peacock scored 41-41/41-42 165, senior Joe Mecklenburg scored 44-42/42-38 166, senior Anthony Kuba scored 44-48/52-43 187, and senior Nicholas Guiang scored 48-47/45-53 193. They will be competing as a team at the State Meet at Pebble Creek in Becker on June 12 and 13.
The boys tennis team of junior Adam Reinke, freshman Alexander Vue, junior Aneesh Syal, freshman Diego Valverde, sophomore Dillon Vue, junior Karan Jain, eighth grader Mario L., junior Parker Law, and senior Travis Mudge won the Section 5A competition, defeating Hill-Murray with a score of 5-2 to advance to the State meet. They are playing on June 5 in the Team State Class A Tournament against Litchfield High School.
On June 7, Travis Mudge and and Dillon Vue will play doubles at the State Class A Tournament versus Luverne High School and Parker Law, ranked the number one seed in this tournament, will play against Minnewaska Area High School. Read more about Parker’s ranking in this recent Star Tribune article!
Junior Yahya Madar was the Section champion in the high jump at the Section 4A Track and Field championships, tying the meet and school record with a jump of 6’6.
Senior Declan Dahlberg placed first at Sections in the 3200m run with a time of 9:50.48.
Five individuals and four MPA relay teams earned medals for placing in the top six. Out of 27 schools, MPA’s boys were fifth and girls twelfth.
Three Panthers are moving on to the State track and field meet at Hamline University: senior Blake Henke in the Wheel Chair Shot, competing on June 8 at 3:30 PM; senior Declan Dahlberg in the 3200m on June 8 and the 1600m run on June 9 at 5:23 PM; and junior Yahya Madar in the High Jump on June 9 at 3:30 PM.
Coach Bev Docherty and Coach Nate Bander ’09 were named the Section 4A Track and Field Boys Head and Assistant Coaches of the year.

Class Of 2018: Alissa Krohn, Oakdale, MN

June 4, 2018

As the 2017–18 school year comes to an end, we’re sharing the college choice stories of several members of the Class of 2018!

In what grade did you come to MPA? 4th Grade

How did you come to choose the college that you did? I was looking for colleges with strong chemical engineering programs, and I greatly appreciated Notre Dame’s strong community and commitment to using one’s education to make a positive difference in the world. I also liked that Notre Dame has a synchronized figure skating team, as this sport has been a major part of my life throughout high school.