April 5, 2018
by Renee Wright, Lower School Director
Editor’s Note: On the first Thursday of each month, you will now find a guest blog post here from one of MPA’s division directors. We hope you will enjoy reading their stories and reflections about life at MPA!
A cherished MPA tradition continues for its 37th year on April 12, 2018, when the Lower School presents its Art and Music Show. You won’t want to miss seeing firsthand the pride on the faces of our Lower School students as they present their beautiful artwork and sing and dance joyfully for family and friends.
The first Lower School Art and Music Show debuted in 1982, never missing a year after that. The early years showcased student learning throughout the school year. Starting in 1989, the shows began to focus on specific themes, thoughtfully selected by the Lower School art and music teachers each year. Earlier themes included Around the World, Songs of America, Animal Fair, Disney, A Wonderful World of Color, Muppets: A Tribute to Jim Henson, Wild West, and many more. This approach has given each Art and Music Show a fresh look and created extraordinary student excitement and engagement.
This year, the students celebrate authors and illustrators of award-winning picture books. Students have studied how stories are conveyed through art and writing. They have learned to analyze the artwork in picture books for color, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value. Kindergartners have explored the colorful works of Eric Carle and Richard Scarry. First graders have learned from the creativity and imagination of Ezra Jack Keats and Lois Ehlert while second graders have enjoyed the rollicking rhymes of Dr. Seuss and the engaging characters of Lucy Cousins. Third graders have been charmed by the gentle animals of Jerry Pinkney and Jan Brett and fourth graders have explored the engaging, innovative works of Sara Fanelli, Chris Raschka, and Barbara Knutson. Books by these authors and illustrators have also been the inspiration for movement, instrument playing, and singing in music class during the year. These creative artists have served as talented role models for our students, and now the students are prepared and excited to present their own inspirations to family and friends!
Register your Upper School Student’s Grandparent or Special Friend for a day at MPA on April 25!
The Mounds Park Academy Athletics Department is conducting a survey regarding athletic participation for the 2018-2019 school year. We are specifically looking at Minnesota State High School League Sponsored Athletics and offerings provided by Mounds Park Academy. This survey takes approximately 5-10 minutes. Your responses to this survey will help us look at our current athletic model and determine if Mounds Park Academy is accommodating the athletic interests and needs of our students. 
Mounds Park Academy Basketball is excited to offer our annual Panther Summer Basketball Camp held Monday, June 11–Thursday, June 14, 2018 from 9 AM–12 PM in the Lansing Sports Center. Panther Basketball Camp is open to MPA and non-MPA students alike, who are entering grades 4-9 in Fall 2018. The cost of attending is $60 per camper and includes a camp t-shirt.
Middle and Upper School French and Spanish teacher Ms. Johnson will be continuing her French cooking class during Summer at MPA! Ms. Johnson inherited her French cooking skills from her mother and her uncle, who was a chef in France, and we are so excited to pass them onto students this summer. They will become versed on a variety of French recipes, mastering crêpes, quiche Lorraine, mousse au chocolat, soupe à l’oignon, and madeleines. During the week, students also learn about other culinary specialties from France as well as cooking techniques.
The Parents Association is seeking volunteers to serve on next year’s PA Board! Serving on the PA Board is a wonderful opportunity to make connections with other parents and students, build community between staff, faculty, parents, and students. Join us, and have a lot of fun with your children and their classmates, too!
What an exciting weekend for our Middle School Mathcounts teams! The team finished 21st at State overall!
Come one, come all to the Spring Auction 2018-Under the Big Top at the JX in Stillwater! This fabulous community building event allows parents, alumni families, faculty, and grandparents to connect, enjoy an evening out, and take home some fantastic auction items, all while supporting the school that brings us together!
The 2018 MPA Varsity Boys Basketball Team is one game away from the State Tournament!
From the looks on their faces in all of the photos, i-Term week has been amazing for MPA Middle Schoolers! They’ve been near and far all over the map, spending the week immersed in learning things completely new to them through hands-on projects.