All School Archives

November 10, 2016

Mark your calendars for Give to the Max Day on November 17 and the end of the Fall Campaign on November 18. The campaign goal is $300,000, including gifts received on Give to the Max Day. If we reach our goal of $80,000 that day, a generous MPA family will contribute an additional $20,000, bringing our grand total to $100,000.

Also, please join us for a Lip Sync Battle on Give to the Max Day in the Lansing Sports Center at 2:30 PM featuring performances from across all divisions. Treats will be provided afterward!

PLEDGE
You can pledge now and donate later. Make a pledge by simply emailing LaTasha@moundsparkacademy.org.

GIVE ONLINE
Click here to make a donation today or on Give to the Max Day.

GIVE IN PERSON
Visit the Development Office anytime or on Give to the Max Day.
We can accept cash, check, or credit and are open daily from 8 AM–4 PM.

If you have any questions, please contact LaTasha St. Arnault, Director of Development, at 651-748-5532 or via email.

Head’s Message: Let’s Double Down on our Mission

November 10, 2016

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Regardless of one’s political affiliation, this has been a tumultuous campaign and the outcome of the election brings a measure of closure. However, it also leaves some with more questions than answers and there are individuals and groups of people feeling unsafe. In times like this, when we are being tested, we are called upon to double down on our values to guide our actions. As a school community, we must double down on our mission: “We teach students to think independently, communicate effectively, and act with respect and integrity in a diverse community that models intellectual ambition, global responsibility, and the joy of learning.”

I have been exceptionally proud of the Mounds Park Academy community in the months leading up to Tuesday’s election. Honest and respectful conversations took place across divisions, in and out of the classrooms. Ideas were debated, issues were deliberated, and positions analyzed. These discussions were undergirded by principles of respectful discourse that cut across party affiliation. Though naturally strained at times, they became teachable moments.

Museum Exhibit Comes to Campus

November 10, 2016

We are very fortunate to be hosting a museum-quality traveling exhibit called “Transfer of Memory” in the Gallery from November 1–16. It contains portraits and accompanying stories of 22 Minnesotan Holocaust survivors. Many MPA classes will be integrating the exhibit into their curriculum, including seventh and eighth grade students who will explore not only the Holocaust, but also oral and community history and a myriad of moral, civic, and ethical issues.

All community members are invited to visit the exhibit when on campus. In addition, community members are invited to join grades 7–12 to hear Fred Amram, the Morse Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Creativity and Communication at the University of Minnesota, speak about his experiences growing up in Nazi Germany on Friday, November 18 from 2–3:10 PM in the Nicholson Center.

Declan Dahlberg State Champion!

November 5, 2016

Congratulations to Declan Dahlberg ’18 for an incredible finish as this year’s Boys Cross Country Class A State Champion! He ran a personal record time of 15:57.1 with the closest finish in meet history. Matthew Bourne ’19 ran an impressive event as well and finished with a personal record.

A full recap of the day can be found on Coach Ethier’s blog. And some of the best media coverage can be found here …

Pioneer Press
Star Tribune Cross Country Hub
Down the Backstretch Blog
Star Tribune Prep Athlete of the Week

MPA is so proud of Declan and Matthew! Go Panthers!

Recent Athletics Highlights

November 3, 2016

There’s been a lot of recent news in Panther Athletics …

In boys varsity cross country, Declan Dahlberg and Matthew Bourne advanced to the State Championship, which will be held this weekend.
In football, our co-op team, the Wolfpack, is playing Friday night in the 4AAAAA section finals on the road against Mahtomedi. They just completed their second undefeated regular season as the Twin Cities Gold Sub-District Champions!
In girls varsity volleyball, MPA beat St. Agnes to move on to Section Semi-Finals—the furthest the Panthers have ever made it in post-season play. While they lost, they won 16 matches this season for a Panther record for volleyball!
In sailing, the team recently participated in the Art Johnson Regatta at White Bear Lake. The competition drew teams from throughout the Midwest and MPA came in second in both the overall competition and the A division. There were 19 teams and more than 100 sailors.

Go Panthers!

Alumni in the News: Olivia Lansing Herrick ’06

November 3, 2016

Olivia, our school’s Girls Golf Team coach and graphic designer, was named the Minnesota Golf Association’s Women’s Player of the Year! She finished first three times this season, including the Minnesota Women’s State Match Play Championship, the MGA Mixed Amateur Team Championship (with partner Trent Peterson), and the MWPGA Four-Ball Championship (with partner Leigh Klasse). She reached the semi-finals of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship and the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship (with partner Samantha Sommers). We are so fortunate to have Olivia so closely connected to our community and are thrilled to share her most recent success with you!

Thank you from the MPA PA!

November 3, 2016

We want to thank everyone for the successful Parents Association events last week. The Halloween Celebrations and Diwali Mela were both excellent representations of our amazing MPA community. Thank you to the volunteers and those who came for the festivities.

The next Cultural Celebrations Committee meeting is Monday, November 7 at 2 PM in the Parents Association Room. The topics include: Christmas and Chinese New Year planning and a Diwali Mela recap. Please join us if you would like to get involved!

A reminder that the Middle School Parent Coffee is tomorrow, Friday, November 4 at 8:15 AM in the Porter Conference Room.

Please contact Christine Larson or Amanda Campbell via email to learn more about the Parents Association and opportunities available.

Quiz Bowl Success

November 3, 2016

MPA’s three Quiz Bowl teams started off league play strong last week! The A Team is pictured above, left to right: Ryan Ghose, Aiden Opatz, Nick Samsel, and Sidney Carlson White. They were 5-0 in preliminaries, took second place overall, and qualified for the National Tournament which will be held in May 2017. The B Team consisting of Teja Upadhyaya, Ben George, Andrew George, Lukas Lindgren were 3-2 in preliminaries and eliminated in the first round of finals. The C Team consisting of middle school students Isak, Connor, Hana, and Simon were 3-2 in preliminaries and eliminated in the second round of finals. Go Panthers!

November 3, 2016

The Upper School Student Council and first graders would like to invite you to give blood on campus on November 15. This long-standing tradition offers a wonderful opportunity for these students to work side-by-side and inspire others to give. Register to donate at redcrossblood.org and help spread the word!

From Dr. Hudson: Equity and Multiculturalism

November 3, 2016

I was very impressed with the turnout at our recent cultural celebration of Diwali last week. It was great visiting with so many of you and seeing the joy in the eyes of our students as they sampled the food, traditions, and activities of the Indian culture. More heartwarming was the pride our Indian-American students took in sharing their culture with others. It is a testimony to the diversity and multiculturalism of the MPA community. I am grateful for the work of our Parents Association and volunteers to make the celebration so meaningful.